Competition Programme  

“The film is about wondering why the world is the place it is” – that’s how Laila Pakalnina describes Hotel and a Ball, a documentary poem coloured with humor and truth. The film wonders why, for example, beauty often lies in simplicity, or why taking something too seriously might result ridiculous, when, on the contrary, playing can be the most important and serious thing to do. It is a masterful quiet dialogue of worlds and points of view.  

Laila Pakalniņa  

Laila Pakalniņa studied film directing at the Moscow Film Institute and TV journalism at Moscow University. She has directed and written several short films and documentaries as well as three full length films, which have been shown at the Cannes and Venice film festivals. Pakalnina’s compelling films are stunning to watch as they are so visual and colourful. Her stories are often carried with gentle irony and strong symbolism.  

Selected Filmography  

On Rubik’s Road / Pa Rubika ceļu (2009)
Three Men and Fish Pond / Par dzimteniti (2008)
The Hostage / Ķilnieks (2006) Water / Udens (2006)
Dream Land / Leiputrija (2004)
The Oak / Ozols (1997)