Māra Vija Pelēcis explores cultural identity and the consequences of war and forced displacement in her work. She graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and, during a Fulbright fellowship in Latvia, directed her first feature film between Latvias (2003). She is the director of the short film series Trimda Dimd and Valiant! A Car, a Cause, and the Cold War (2022), and producer of Pērkons: A VR Rockumentary (2018). Her work has received Best of Fest audience awards and recognition from the Institute of Documentary Film in Prague, as well as the Paley Center for Media in New York.

In addition to her work in film and the arts, since the summer of 2022 she has been director of Kursa Latvian summer high school program. When asked how this fits into her life, she responds: “Is there anything better than summer among the pine forests of the Pacific Northwest with colleagues and friends, creating cultural programs for students?”

Cinematographer-director Emīls Spuņģis is a rising star in the film industry in Latvia and across Europe. His debut feature film as cinematographer, Slāpes (2024), stood out for its complex handheld camera work and striking visual style. With multiple awards and nominations in short film categories at European festivals, Emīls has established himself as a remarkable talent, working on art and documentary films as well as commercial projects in the U.S., the U.K., and Latvia.

Emīls is passionate about traveling around Europe in his camper van and hiking in the Alps. His trusty Volkswagen T6 van serves as both his transportation and home on European adventures.