Latvian lawmakers are advancing a pair of legislative amendments aimed at modernizing the country’s audiovisual sector, expanding the definition of domestic films to include multi-episode television series and easing restrictions on international co-productions, LvPortals reported.
The 14th Saeima, continuing its legislative duties ahead of the 15th Saeima convening in early November 2026, voted on October 22 to advance the Film Law amendments to the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee. Alongside updates to the Electronic Mass Media Law, the parliamentary moves seek to capture shifting media consumption habits and align national standards with European directives.
Broadening the Legal Scope for Television Series and Co-Productions
The proposed changes to the Film Law overhaul how Latvian legislation defines cinematic works.
Under the new text, a film is defined as a completed audiovisual or cinematographic work consisting of a series of related images creating an impression of movement, with or without sound, including individual parts or episodes forming an extended narrative intended for public release. The legislative package also expands the recognized list of creative professions involved in Latvian film production.
Furthermore, the amendments alter the geographic criteria for public funding eligibility. Currently, funding requires a project’s action to take place primarily in Latvia, an EU or EEA member state, or Switzerland. The revised framework allows funding for films primarily set in any member state of the Council of Europe or the European Cultural Convention that adheres to the Revised European Cinematographic Co-production Convention.
According to official annotations, this change embraces countries with which Latvian producers maintain active co-production ties, such as Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland.
Additionally, while current laws mandate that one original master version of a publicly funded Latvian film be in the Latvian language, the amendments permit minority co-productions to qualify for funding if they are subtitled in Latvian, paving the way for wider domestic exhibition of foreign co-productions in their original audio format.
| Proposed Change | Previous Legal Standard | Target Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Film Definition | Excludes television series | Includes multi-episode series and narrative parts |
| Eligible Crew Roles | Narrowly defined technical positions | Adds VFX, lead artists, editors, and makeup designers |
| Co-Production Geography | Limited to EU, EEA, and Switzerland | Opens to all parties of the Revised European Convention |
| Language Requirement | Original master must be in Latvian | Permits minority co-productions with Latvian subtitles |
Integrating Regional Cinema Infrastructure Debates
While parliament evaluates the broader co-production framework, regional exhibitors have pushed for deeper structural considerations within the film ecosystem. In submissions to the Saeima committee, Ventspils cinema Kino Rio, operated by SIA “Stalkers K”, argued that the initial government-backed draft did not adequately address the impact on local cinemas, regional film accessibility, and physical infrastructure, as reported by Firmas.lv.
Representatives from the Ventspils venue advocated for explicit legislative support for public film screenings, audience development, and technical modernization, suggesting that state-funded Latvian films should debut in physical theaters before migrating to streaming platforms. While those specific theater-protection measures were not fully mirrored in the main parliamentary draft transmitted on October 22, the competing perspectives highlight ongoing friction over how state subsidies ripple across the entire cinematic value chain, from initial production to regional exhibition.
Aligning Media Accessibility with European Standards
In tandem with the Film Law updates, the Saeima committee received amendments to the Electronic Mass Media Law on October 22. This legislation transposes the terminology of Article 7 of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive 2010/13/ES into domestic law.
The amendments replace the term “pieejamība” (availability/accessibility) with “piekļūstamība” (accessibility/accessibility for persons with disabilities) to ensure uniform interpretation across regulatory bodies. The National Electronic Mass Media Council retains its existing oversight competencies, and the changes introduce no new operational burdens or strict deadlines for media providers, formally codifying standards that broadcasters have already been navigating in practice.
