Twenty films from Latvia are among the works of animation being screened from Sept. 11-16 during the Fantoche 07 festival in Baden, Switzerland. This is the first time Latvia has participated in the festival, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Films from Latvia being shown are some classics of animation as well as more recent work.

“Latvia’s animated film-making scene is unfairly seen as a ‘white dot’ on the European cinema landscape because Latvian animation is anything but colourless, it is characterised by a rich palette of shades and shapes,” according to the official festival program. “The films explore the infinite nature of opposites and know no bounds in terms of design. Latvian animated film-making also has a lot to offer from a technical perspective. To this day it still nurtures its tradition of puppet films which dates back to 1966. However, studios have developed alongside that which have perfected the art of 2D and 3D animation.”

The lion’s share of Latvian films will be screened during two “Terra Incognita” showcases devoted to the country.

In the first showcase, director Arnold Burovs’ Pygmalion (1966) and Little Hawk (1978), Roze Stiebra’s Looking for the Northern Daughter (1980) and Tanzania (2003), Vladimir Lesčovs’ Insomnia (2004), Edmunds Jansons’ Scissorman (2005), Signe Baumane’s Woman (2002), and Aija Bley’s Island of Doctor D. (2005) and The Prickly (2005) will be screened at 18:30 hours Sept. 12 and 09:30 hours Sept. 15 in Kino Orient, Landstrasse 2, Wettingen.

In the second “Terra Incognita” showcase, Burovs’ The Last Leaf (1984), Ansis Bērziņš The Trumpeter of Tālava (1988), Jānis Cimermanis’ Latvian (2007), Nils Skapāns Telephone (2005), Gints Apsīts’ Ministry Messiah (2005), Lesčovs’ Lost in Snow (2007) and Stiebra’s Green Fairy Tale (1977), A Piece of Cake (2000), Where Are Your Running (1997) and Butterflies (1997) will be screened at 18:30 hours Sept. 13 and 12:15 hours Sept. 15 in Kino Orient.

Participating in the festival’s International Competition are two Latvian films, Bley’s Island of Doctor D. and director Lesčovs’ Lost in Snow. The competition includes 33 other films. Island of Doctor D. and Lost in Snow are scheduled at 20:45 hours Sept. 11 in Kino Linde, Mellingerstrasse 22, and at 16:15 hours Sept. 12 and 14:15 hours Sept. 13 in Kino Sterk, Bahnhofstrasse 22, Baden.

In a showcase of animation films intended for children between the ages of 4 and 7, nine films will be screened including two works by Skapāns, The Witch’s Button (2006) and Holes in the House (2000). Screenings are scheduled at 14:15 hours Sept. 12 and 14:15 hours Sept. 16 in Kino Orient.

For further information on the festival, visit www.fantoche.ch.

Latvia’s Constitutional Court has thrown out a case challenging the constitutionality of the nation’s prohibition against dual citizenship, meaning supporters may have to look to parliament for change.

The case was brought by Marks Locovs, a Latvian and Israeli citizen, and Diāna Locovs, who wanted their daughter to also have dual citizenship. Marks Locovs had received Latvian citizenship under a pre-1995 provision that allowed exiles and their descendants to reclaim citizenship without having to give up citizenship in their host countries. The daughter received Israeli citizenship at birth, but was denied Latvian citizenship unless she gave up Israeli citizenship.

The parents challenged articles 3 and 9 of Latvia’s citizenship law. Part of Article 3 allows a child to be considered a citizen in cases where just one parent already has Latvian citizenship. But, according to Article 9, a person who becomes a Latvian citizen is not allowed to be a dual citizen.

The Locovses argued that the constitution guarantees equal rights for all citizens regardless of where they live. By denying their daughter Latvian citizenship, they argued, her rights had been violated.

The court saw it differently, according to an Aug. 23 press release.

The Locovses had specifically called into question Paragraph 2 of Article 3 of the citizenship law, but the court said this did not apply because the specific paragraph also states that at the time of a child’s birth the Latvian parent must permanently reside in Latvia. Rather, the court said, it is Paragraph 3 that applies to the Locovs family. That paragraph states if one parent is a Latvian citizen but the other is not, and both parents permanently reside outside Latvia, then a child’s citizenship is determined by agreement of the parents.

The court also noted that Article 9 applies only to gaining citizenship through naturalization, which would not apply in this case.

The Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration has proposed to the government that dual citizenship be allowed for children born to Latvian citizens abroad. The proposal is part of an action plan aimed at stemming the emigration of Latvian citizens to Western Europe and encouraging repatriation.

Latvia’s young tennis wonder Ernests Gulbis fell Sept. 4 to 17th-seeded Carlos Moya of Spain, thus ending his surprising debut in the U.S. Open being played in New York.

Gulbis, 19, had surprised fans and tennis observers by breaking into the final 16 in men’s singles play when he beat eighth-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain on Sept. 2.

Moya proved a stronger opponent, defeating the Latvian 7-5, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 in their fourth-round match. Moya advanced to the quarter-finals.

Gulbis was the youngest player remaining in the singles draw, according to the official Web site of the U.S. Open. He stands to make USD 75,000 for getting in the final 16, while the winner of the tournament will make USD 1.4 million.