A new promotional video, “Sounds Like Latvia,” touts the country as a diverse land proud of its natural habitat and achievements in science, economics and culture, the Latvian Institute announced Oct. 20 in Rīga.

The five-minute film, created with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially highlights Rīga’s Art Nouveau architecture. The video uses details of that architecture as unifying elements as it invites the viewer to not just see Latvia, but to hear the sounds of its nature, its high technology and the grand choir concert of a Song Festival.

Director of the video is Ivo Kalpenieks, who along with Ēriks Božis also wrote the script. Music for the video was composed by Ģirts Bišs.

The video is intended for distribution to world media and to governments and ministries, the institute announced. The video also will soon be available in DVD format and on the Web site of the Latvian Institute, www.li.lv. The institute’s popular “Welcome to Latvia” video, featuring the music of Prāta Vētra, also is available for download on the site.