Eleven international companies have acquired the distribution rights for Viestur Kairišs and Kārlis Arnolds Avots’s feature film Uļa, bringing the drama about Latvian basketball star Uļjana Semjonova to audiences across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East following its festival run and national Oscar submission.
Eleven Companies Acquire Global Distribution Rights
Trade publication Variety highlighted lead actor Kārlis Arnolds Avots and his contribution to the film’s creation when the film’s worldwide premiere took place at the Cannes Film Festival within the Un Certain Regard section. Avots’s long-standing personal vision to portray the basketball star served as the starting point for the production, with director Kairišs noting that Semjonova herself supported the idea and placed trust in the creators.
Distributors Map International Territories
Territorial agreements span major global markets through specialized independent distributors. The regional rollout includes partnerships across North America, European arthouse circuits, and Middle Eastern platforms.
| Region or Territory | Distributing Company |
|---|---|
| North America | New Mountain Films |
| France | Destiny |
| Italy | Invisible Carpet |
| Slovakia | ASFK |
| Former Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia) | Five Star Distribution |
| Estonia | Hea Film |
| Lithuania | GPI |
| Middle East and North Africa | Teleview |
| Finland | Cinema Orion |
| Poland | 1989 |
| Brazil | Belas Arte |
Cinematic Portrait Versus Sporting Legend
Uļjana Semjonova died on January 8, 2026, at age 73, remembered as a two-time Olympic champion, three-time world champion, and one of Latvia’s all-time greatest basketball players, whose life Uļjana Semjonova lived before the 1 hour and 43 minute drama was directed by Viestur Kairišs with a script co-authored by Avots, Līvija Ulmane, and Andris Feldmanis, featuring cinematography by Polish camera operator Vojteks Starons and art direction by Ieva Jurjāne.
The film’s cast features Kārlis Arnolds Avots alongside Čulpana Hamatova, Aleksas Kazanavičius, Šamils Hamatovs, Kaspars Dumburs, Arturs Krūzkops, Madara Viļčuka, Dārta Cīrule, Alise Dzene, and Varvara Čekhs. Recommended for audiences aged 12 and older, the feature includes dialogue in both Latvian and Russian.
Musician Andris Kivičs voiced strong criticism on social media regarding the film’s somber tone and focus, arguing that the production bypassed Semjonova’s global athletic triumphs in favor of a melancholic atmosphere.
It's a good thing Uļa didn't see 'Uļa'. That black-and-white misery, sorrow, and hopelessness of Kairišs… Uļa was the most positive, happiest person because of her 2.10 m height, she didn't really suffer, but saw the whole world and experienced fantastic moments. Andris
Other commentators and participants in the project defended the work’s artistic depth. Cast members and audiences noted that repeated viewings reveal emotional resonance in its exploration of identity, isolation, and belonging, contrasting with Kivičs’s perspective that alternative sports dramas achieved a more celebratory audience reaction.
The film arrived on domestic cinema screens in September 2026.
The media enterprise involved in reporting on the production participates in the Latvian Media Industry Competence Centre project (No. 2.2.1.5.i.0/2/24/A/CFLA/001), which receives support for media specialist training and digital development modernization under the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility investment measure for promoting digital transformation in media enterprises.