On September 26, 2026, artists and cultural figures gathered at Riga’s Splendid Palace to honor the 90th birth anniversary of the late Latvian film director and screenwriter Jānis Streičs with a tribute concert titled My Friend Jānis Streičs
, alongside a major expansion of his digital film collection.
Tribute Concert at Splendid Palace Honors Streičs
The commemorative evening in Riga brought together prominent actors, musicians, and public figures to celebrate the enduring legacy of one of Latvia’s most cherished cinematic voices. Directed in accordance with the filmmaker’s own visionary wishes for a joyful celebration, the program featured musical performances and personal reminiscences.
Artists and performers taking part in the tribute included The Sound Poets, Kautkaili, and Citi zēni, delivering new arrangements of songs originating from the director’s extensive filmography. They were joined on stage by well-known actors including Gundars Āboliņš, Jānis Paukštello, Olga Dreģe, Uldis Dumpis, Viktorija Streiča, and Daira Āboliņš.
Some say these numbers mean two infinities, while others say two pretzels must be put on the table. I attach no importance to it.
The event itself drew numerous friends and public figures to the historic Riga cinema, fulfilling a concept conceived by Streičs before his death. Proceeds from the evening are earmarked to support the Jānis Streičs Cultural Foundation and the preservation of his creative output.
Digital Archives Expand With Early Works and Subtitles
To mark the milestone anniversary, the National Film Centre and the Latvian National Archives' State Archives of Audiovisual Documents updated the public film collection with a comprehensive selection of early films and newly subtitled works.
The newly expanded collection includes Streičs’s second independent feature film Vālodzīte (1972), alongside his 1976 feature Meistars, which marked his first collaboration with actress Vija Artmane. The curation also spans his 1969 collaboration with Ēriks Lācis on Līvsalas zēni and his first independent film direction, the feature Šauj manā vietā (1970).
A Life Dedicated to Latvian Cinema and Culture
Born in Latgale on September 26, 1936, Streičs graduated from the Theatre Department of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian State Conservatory in 1963. Although he once remarked in an interview that Teātris aizveda neceļos
—noting his youthful aspirations to become a painter—he built a prolific cinematic career spanning 22 major works.
His filmography encompasses beloved comedies, historical dramas, and poignant tributes to his native region, including the enduring midsummer classic Limuzīns Jāņu nakts krāsā (1981), the 1991 Latgalian tribute Cilvēka bērns, and the comedy Rūdolfa mantojums (2010). The celebrated director passed away on March 5, 2026, at the age of 89.
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