
Directing
Born June 4, 1962 · Liepaja, Latvian SSR, USSR [now Latvia]
Laila Pakalniņa is a Latvian art-house filmmaker. She graduated from the Moscow Film Institute (VGIK), Department of Film Direction, in 1991. A director and scriptwriter of 31 documentaries, 5 shorts, and 5 fiction features, altogether she has 41 films, 2 children, 1 husband, 2 dogs and 2 bicycles. Her films have screened in official programmes at Cannes, Venice, Berlinale, Locarno, Karlovy Vary, Rome and other international festivals, where they have won numerous awards.

Scarecrows
2026

Cat on my Mind
2025

Termini
2024

Homes
2021

In the Mirror
2020

The First Bridge
2020

Spoon
2019

Hello, Horse!
2017

Waterfall
2016

Dream
2016

Dawn
2015

Hey, Rasma!
2015

Hotel and a Ball
2014

A Dream of Snow
2014

Short Film About Life
2014

The Chimney
2013

Forty Two
2013

Pizzas
2012

Snow Crazy
2012

33 Animals of Santa Claus
2011

On Rubik's Road
2010

Silence (Elements)
2009

Stones (Elements)
2008

Three Men and a Fish Pond
2008

Fire (Elements)
2007

Theodore
2006

The Hostage
2006

The Water (Elements)
2006

Dream Land
2004

Bus
2004

Visions of Europe
2004

It'll Be Fine
2004

The Python
2003

Martin
2002

Wake Up!
2001

Papa Gena
2001

The Shoe
1998

The Oak
1997
Ubāns
1995

The Mail
1995

The Ferry
1994

Church
1993

Annas Ziemassvētki
1992

The Linen
1991
Iešana
1991
The Cathedral
1991
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