Yesterday, the 98th anniversary of the cinema was celebrated with a special black & white atmosphere and the legendary Federico Fellini’s 8 ½ was enjoyed. The Splendid Palace premises and especially the Winter Garden were filled with the imagery of the film world and the aesthetics of black and white cinema. The gala event culminated in the Europa Cinemas award ceremony, in front of a packed audience and a sold-out screening.

On the occasion of the anniversary screening, the Europa Cinemas Steering Committee announced that the Europa Cinemas Award for Best Programming 2021 will be awarded this year to Splendid Palace for its outstanding, diverse and high quality performance.

Fatima Djoumer, International Relations Manager at Europa Cinemas, addressed the team remotely from Germany during the event: “Every year, we evaluate and award the best European cinema. And this year, we're awarding the Best Cinema Programming 2021 to Splendid Palace in Riga. I congratulate the whole team on their success and hard work.”

Only one or two cinemas in the world are awarded this prize each year, and this is the first time that a Latvian cinema has received this honour.

European Cinemas brings together cinemas that promote European films, forming a wide network in Europe and beyond. The association currently has registered 72 countries, 786 cities and 1268 cinemas. Splendid Palace has been part of this association since 1994 and this year, in a highly competitive contest, it received the prestigious award.

“I have attended several European award ceremonies, but I could not have imagined that one day, thanks to the work of the Splendid Palace team, I would be standing here on this stage, receiving this prestigious award. The recognition received from European industry professionals will not only significantly enhance the reputation of the cinema, but will also raise the profile of Splendid Palace and Latvia in the world,” said Vineta Verika, Chair of the Board of SIA Rīgas nami, in her celebratory address during the event.

The Splendid Palace team has been working for years to develop its audience's taste in cinema and the belief that the most luxurious and oldest cinema in Latvia shows the best cinema in the world.

Europa Cinemas award in the Best Programming 2021 category is a great motivation for the work ahead and especially for the preparation of the centenary of the cinema in 2023.

^*Cinema Splendid Palace is the structural unit of the Riga City Municipality capital company SIA Rīgas nami.

Information prepared by:

Agnese Kvedere

Director of Marketing and Communication Department, SIA Rīgas nami

agnese.kvedere@riga.lv

Tel.: +371 220 441 95