Latvia Picks Viesturs Kairišs's Ulya as Its 2027 Oscar Entry
The black-and-white basketball biopic, which premiered at Cannes, will open the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on Friday.
Latvia has selected Viesturs Kairišs's Ulya as its contender for the international best feature film Oscar at the 2027 Academy Awards, according to hollywoodreporter.com. The film, which stars Kārlis Arnolds Avots, will also open the 30th edition of Estonia's Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) on Friday.
Ulya is inspired by the life of Latvian basketball player Uljana Semjonova and is shot in black and white. It had its world premiere at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section and is a co-production between Latvia, Poland, Estonia and Lithuania.
B-Rated International is handling sales for the film, and New Mountain Films has acquired it for North America.
Kairišs returns to the Oscar race
Latvia previously sent two other Kairišs films to the Oscars: January in 2022 and The Chronicles of Melanie in 2017. Avots also worked with the director on January.
The country made Oscar history in 2025 when Gints Zilbalodis's Flow won the best animated feature award.
Quick answers
Which film is Latvia submitting for the 2027 Oscars?
Latvia has selected Viesturs Kairišs's Ulya as its contender for the international best feature film category at the 2027 Academy Awards.
What is Ulya about?
The black-and-white film is inspired by the life of Latvian basketball player Uljana Semjonova and stars Kārlis Arnolds Avots.
Where does Ulya open?
It opens the 30th edition of Estonia's Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) on Friday.