In Persona: Vladimir Leschiov (Riga)

Vladimir Leschiov certainly can be considered Latvia’s most recognized animation artist. Even as a boy, he developed his artistic sense and his imagination by painting on all the walls of the family house. A visual artist by education, he graduated from Janis Rozent ls Riga Art School, and later pursued an animation degree at Sweden‘s Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design. After returning to Lativia, Vladimir Leschiov founded his own Riga based animation studio “Lunohod” in 2007.As a universally skilled artist, Vladimir Leschiov uses a wide range of different art techniques to find the best visual solution for every single one of his films. Depending on the story he wants to tell, the techniques vary from watercolours, soft pastels, oil colours or acrylic to ink or even black tea. For “Rainy Days”, his first collaboration with the renowned National Film Board of Canada (NFB), for instance, he chose a very unique animation technique – black tea and ink on paper. Then again, in his gently comic „Waiting for the New Year“ he used watercolours to chronicle the passing of the seasons. For the highly acclaimed “Villa Antropoff” he collaborated with Kaspar Jancis, one of the most important representatives of the Estonian School.Because Vladimir Leschiov considers animation itself so powerful and without any limits for expression, he believes that dialogue or speech in it would be an unnecessary addition. As to him animation is like music, he focuses on soundtracks to support the powerful pictorial world of his animated films. Therefore he works with outstanding composers such as the Canadian Normand Roger (“Lost in Snow” and “Wings and Oars”), giving them the freedom to create unique scores to his images. Asked about his process of creation, Vladimir Leschiov once said that “Working on an animated film and its soundtrack is similar to the process of cooking. Balance, texture, taste and… aftertaste, of course. The film must leave you thinking about it and wishing to watch it again in hope to find new details.”

Bezmiegs (Insomnia)

Regie Director: Vladimir Leschiov / Lettland / 2004 / 00:07:00 min.

Zudusi Sniega (Lost in Snow)

Regie Director: Vladimir Leschiov / Lettland, Schweden / 2007 / 00:07:49 min.

Sparni un Airi (Wings and Oars)

Regie Director: Vladimir Leschiov / Lettland / 02.2009 / 00:05:51 min.

Villa Antropoff (Villa Antropoff)

Regie Director: Vladimir Leschiov, Kaspar Jancis / Lettland, Estland / 02.2012 / 00:13:03 min. / Verleih Distribution:

Lietus dienas(Latvian), Jours de pluie (French) (Rainy Days)

Regie Director: Vladimir Leschiov / Kanada, Lettland / 06.2014 / 00:08:14 min.

Gaidot jauno gadu (Waiting For the New Year)

Regie Director: Vladimir Leschiov / Lettland / 02/2016 / 00:08:11 min. / Produktion Production: Lunohod Animation Studio / Weltvertrieb World Sales: Animation Show of Shows, Inc.

The Letter From Hibakusha (The Letter From Hibakusha)

Regie Director: Vladimir Leschiov / Lettland, Japan / 2017 / 00:04:34 min. / Produktion Production: LUNOHOD / NHK

Elektriķa diena (Electrician’s Day)

Regie Director: Vladimir Leschiov / Lettland / 2018 / 00:08:44 min. / Produktion Production: LUNOHOD