Latvian Rockets

“Spēlmaņu nakts” Production of the Year (Large-Scale Form)! “Latvian Rockets” is a production in which audiences can get a glimpse into the history of Latvian bobsleigh. The director developed his perspective on events by interviewing 21 people closely connected with bobsleigh. As the director emphasises: “This production is not about sport, but about Latvian men—LĀČPLĒŠI, the heroes of the people. Latvians can, could, and will be able to.” The beginnings of Latvian bobsleigh date back to the 1980s, when engineer and luge coach Rolands Upatnieks created a USSR national team from scratch, at a time when this sport did not yet exist in the USSR or Latvia. Ninety-five percent of the team were Latvians. This will be a documentary heroic epic for the Latvian people and a memorial to the late Rolands Upatnieks. Director: Regnārs Vaivars. Cast: Mārtiņš Kalita, Valts Skuja, Kārlis Artejevs, Artūrs Irbe, Kārlis Ērglis, Hugo Puriņš, Armands Kaušelis, Kaspars Kārkliņš, Sandis Pēcis.