Blizzard of Souls (aka The Rifleman)

Music by
Lolita Ritmanis

A sixteen-year-old Arturs enlists to fight in World War I with dreams of becoming a hero, but after surviving the brutalities of trench warfare and the loss of his family, he wonders if his efforts in battle were futile and if hope is only to be found in rebuilding a family and a home as Latvia itself is born from the atrocities of war.

Directed by
Dzintars Dreibergs

Starring
Oto Brantevics
Vilis Daudzinš
Mārtinš Vilsons
Rēzija Kalnina
Raimonds Celms
Gatis Gāga
Jēkabs Reinis
Renārs Zeltinš
Grēta Trušina

Screenplay by
Borsss Frumin
Dzintars Dreibergs

Music by
Lolita Ritmanis

Cinematography by
Valdis Celminš

Art Directions by:
Juris Žukovskis

Costumes by
Sandra Sila

Make-up by
Dzintra Bijubena

Edited By
Gatis Belogrudovs

Sound by
Aleksandrs Vaicahovskis

Visual Effects by
Māris Ābolinš

Produced by
Dzintars Dreibergs
Inga Pranevska

Score Produced by
Mark Mattson
Lolita Ritmanis

Orchestra Conductor
Lolita Ritmanis

Choir Conductor
Māris Sirmais

Orchestration
Lolita Ritmanis
Larry Rench

Music Recorded at
Latvia Radio 1 Studio, Riga
MBM Studios, Los Angeles

Music Recorded by
Varis Kurminš
Mark Mattson

Music Mixed and Mastered by
Mark Mattson

1st Violins
Mark Mattson
Aleksejs Bahirs - Koncertmeistars
Oskars Silinš
Inese Štrāle
Aija Frišenfelde
Indulis Cintinš
Madara Gaile
Undīne Cercina
Rūdolfs Mikelsons
Lāsma Vītola
Andrejs Jegorovs

2nd Violins
Ivars Brïnums
Inga Slava
Beāte Račko
Aleksandra Mališkina
Margarita Ogibalova
Kristiāna Ozolina
Baiba Biezā
Otto Trapāns

Violas
Arigo Štrāls
Silvija Krauze
Liene Martinsone
Tatjana Lebedeva
Jevgenija Gorbunova
Santa Lūcija Circene
Katrīna Anna Pelnēna
Dāvis Sliecāns

Celli
Ieva Upatniece
Dace Zālīte-Zilberte
Pēteris Čirkšis
Mikelis Dobičins
Dārta Svētina
Tomas Anžs

Basses
Oskars Bokanovs
Raivo Ozols
Viktors Veličko
Viktors Stankēvičs

Harp
Ieva Šablovska

Flutes
Anete Toča
Maija Zandberga

Clarinets
Mārtinš Circenis
Sigurds Lallo
Mareks Pinta

Oboes
Jana Zelenska
Dainis Cimermanis

Bassoons
Jānis Semjonovs
Raimonds Gulbis

French Horns
Miks Bankevics
Mārcis Kalniš
Kalvis Etkins
Daniels Sabanskis
Mārcis Auzinš
Rolands Sēlis

Trumpets
Edgars Bārzdinš
Edgars Švembergs

Trombones
Kaspars Majors
Lauris Zvejnieks
Artūrs Bērzinš

Tuba
Raivis Māgurs

Percussion
Edgars Saksons
Rihards Zalupe

Piano
Līga Kārklina

Synthesizer
Lolita Ritmanis

Guitar
Paul Jameson

Choir
State Choir "Latvija"

Artistic Director and Chief Conductor
Māris Sirmais

General Manager
Māris Ošlejs

Administrative Assistant
Līga Štrausa

Sopranos
Vita Grīnhofa
Indra Prince
Māra Pilante
Marlēna Dravniece
Inga Lisovska
Irīna Rebhūna
Agita Meri
Laura Tērauda
Ina Jēkabsone
Sanita Sinkēviča
Dita Tomsone
Eva Pērkone
Ingrīda Klepere
Marika Austruma

Altos
Daiga Visocka
Lāsma Gorska
Inita Kamarūte
Zane Kažēna
Ilze Dzenīte
Laila Lineja
Inga Giluča
Daina Āboltina
Iveta Sevele
Dace Bite
Lauma Malnace
Evita Taranda

Tenors
Jurgis Liepnieks
Didzis Lielauss
Valdis Tomsons
Guntars Vētra
Matīss Tučs
Ansis Bētinš
Kalvis Ozolinš
Armands Šterns
Agnis Augustinovičs
Cristopher Brent Walsh
Juris Jēkabsons

Basses
Ugis Matvejs
Didzis Lielauss
Valdis Tomsons
Guntars Vētra
Matīss Tučs
Ansis Bētinš
Kalvis Ozolinš
Armands Šterns
Agnis Augustinovičs
Cristopher Brent Walsh
Juris Jēkabsons

Orchestra Contractor
Edgars Saksons

Librarian
Baiba Čirkše

Stage Crew
Andis Zvejnieks
Kaspars Majors

Additional Orchestration
Steven Rader

Music Preparation
Baiba Čirkse
Ugis Megelis

Photographers and Artists
Sanita Ieva Sparāne
Raimonds Birkenfelds
Pēteris Vīksna
Kristians Rukuts
Kristaps Kalns

Winner—Fimucite Festival Internacional de Musica de Cine de Tenerife 2020 (Alex North Award)
Best Original Score: Lolita Ritmanis

Winner—Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2021 (HMMA)
Best Original Score-Independent Film (Foreign Language): Lolita Ritmanis

Nominee—IMAGO International Award for Best Cinematography 2020
Best Cinematography for Feature Film: Valdis Celmins (director of photorgaphy); Kultfilma (production company)

Winner—Latvian National Film Festival 2020 (Latvian Film Prize)
Best Film: Inga Pranevska, Dzintars Dreibergs, and Kultfilma
Best Director: Dzintars Dreibergs
Best Cinematography: Valdis Celmins
Best Make-up: Dzintra Bijubene
Best Score: Lolita Ritmanis
Best Editing: Gatis Belogrudovs

Nominee—Latvian National Film Festival 2020 (Latvian Film Prize)
Best Acting: Oto Brantevics
Best Screenplay: Boris Frumin and Dzintars Dreibergs
Best Production Design: Juris Zhukovskis
Best Sound: Alesksandrs Vaicahovskis

Nominee—Shanghai International Film Festival 2020 (The Belt and Road Film Week)
Audience Choice Award for Film: Dzintars Dreibergs

Winner—Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards 2021 (SCL Award)
Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film: Lolita Ritmanis

Nominee—Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2020 (Best Baltic Film): Dzintars Dreibergs

Nominee—World Soundtrack Awards 2020 (Public Choice Award): Lolita Ritmanis

Nominee—WorldFest Houston 2020 (Remi Award)
Best Actor: Oto Brantevics
Best Supporting Actress: Ieva Florence