More than 20 Latvian feature, documentary and animation films, as well as work by Estonian and Lithuanian directors, will be showcased Oct. 18-23 during the third annual Baltic Film Festival Berlin.

In all, more than 40 films will be screened during the festival, which was initiated by Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit. This year, the festival is focused on Latvia, with special attention devoted to director, cameraman, screenwriter and producer Herz Frank. Born in 1926, Frank studied law and worked in journalism before turing to film.

Opening the festival is Laila Pakalniņa’s 2006 film Ķīlnieks (The Hostage) and Frank’s 1978 short, Vecāks par 10 minūtēm (Ten Minutes Older). The program begins at 19:00 hours Oct. 18 in the festival venue, Kino Babylon Berlin Mitte, Rosa-Luxembourg-Strasse 30, Berlin. Speaking during the opening will be both directors; Latvia’s ambassador to Germany, Mārtiņš Virsis; and Ieva Pitruka, festival coordinator for the National Film Center of Latvia.

Also on the festival program are such Latvian films as Monotonija by director Juris Poškus. The film just won the prize for best feature film in the Lielais Kristaps competition, Latvia’s equivalent of the Oscars.

For further information on the festival, visit www.balticfilmfestivalberlin.net.

Laila Pakalniņa’s feature film Ķīlnieks is among Latvian movies showcased during the third annual Baltic Film Festival Berlin.