Aija Bleja
EDUCATION:
2013 Photography studies in ISSP, Latvia;
2013 Jan Grarup photography masterclass;
2013 Niko Baumgarten book creation masterclass;
2012 Simon Norfolk photography masterclass;
2012 Jodie Bieber photography masterclass;
2011 MA Latvian Academy of Arts for Master’s degree of Science of Arts;
2011 Workshop with Sarah Leen and Bill Marr (National Geographic Magazine) Documentary Photo Essay, Latvia;
2011 International Summer School of Photography – ISSP Workshop “Creative documentary: Using reality to create personal fiction” by Claudine Doury (FR);
2010 International Summer School of Photography – ISSP Workshop “Documentary Practice and Narrative: The Long Term Project” by George Georgiou (UK);
1999 received a NIPKOW Programme scholarship and studied directing in Berlin.
1997 graduating Latvian Culture Academy – Art bachelor’s degree in cinema director’s speciality.
FILMS (selection):
Animation:
“Woman and Wind”, 2011;
“Island of Doctor D” - nomination for the best animation film and the best animation artist in Film Festival “Big Kristaps”, Latvia, 2005;
“The Prickly” – 3D animation (nomination as the best debut in Film Festival “Big Kristaps”, Latvia, 2004.
Features:
“Merry Christmas!” - Special prize in 9th International film festival in Sienna, Italy (short), 2004;
“Blurp” (“Šļurp”) - St. Anna award in V student movie festival in Moscow (short), 1997;
“Verner’s Suffering“ (short), 1996.
Documentaries:
“Dances of Elves”, 2009, co-production with NDR/3sat TV (Germany);
“Mansur’s War Dance”, 2009;
“Ice –Breaker and His Children” - has received the main prize in Moscow, XI International Eurasian Teleforum, in nomination “The Family of Russia”, 2008;
“Choice” – has received the main prize in Moscow, XI International Eurasian Teleforum, in nomination “Sport in the name of life”, 2008;
“Talking on the Way”, 2006;
“Letter to Embute”, 2006;
“How I Went to Look for Reindeer”, 2005;
“Village Close to Heaven”, 2004;
“The Sounds of the Seasons”, (Lettland – Wildnis zwischen Rusland und Riga) - Special prize in Pushalski’s film festival in Lodza, 2005, Jury award in international documentary movie festival in Bratislav, 2003;
“A Guard, Stalin and Airplanes”, 1998.
Video Art:
“Ophelia’s Dream”, 1995;
“Disturbances in the Count of Time” - Special prize in international video art festival “OSTRANENIE - 95” Bauhaus Dessau, 1995;
GRAND PRIX achiever in Latvian-France video art festival in Riga, 1994.
Photo Books:
2013 “Taxi Boys” Photo and text Aija Bley;
2012 “Once the Roses were in Bloom” Photo and text Aija Bley;
2012 “Georgia. Talking with the Doves” Photo Aija Bley, text Elvita Ruka;
2011 "Tajikistan. Wallet With Little Birds ". Photo Aija Bley, text Elvita Ruka;
2011 "Kyrgyzstan. Disobedient Asian Daughter "Photo Aija Bley, text Elvita Ruka;
2011 "Uzbekistan. Between Gold and Uranium" Photo Aija Bley, text Elvita Ruka;
2006 "Hearted Dogs” Photo Aija Bley, text Elvita Ruka.
PRIZES (selection):
Grand Prix in the Eurasian Teleforum in Moscow for the films “Ice –Breaker and His Children” and (Choice”, 2008);
Special prize in Pushalski’s film festival in Lodza (2005) “The Sounds of the Seasons”, 2005;
Special prize for the short film “Best wishes!” in 9th International film festival in Sienna, Italy, 2004;
Jury award in international documentary movie festival in Bratislav for the film “The Sounds of the Seasons”, 2003);
Winner of the Grand Prix in Baltic – France film video arts festival for the work “Disturbances in the Count of Time” and rights to create a film ”Yourneau de Voyage” in Paris, 1997.