Riga, 58a Miera Street, May 23, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The VEF-90 film projector turns 90!
The first movie screening in Riga turns 130!
As part of Museum Night: “Adventures of an Object,” the LKA Latvian Film Museum (Riga, Miera iela 58a) invites you to a Museum Night adventure on May 23, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., dedicated to the only film projector manufactured in independent Latvia. At the Latvian Film Museum, you will have the opportunity to view the VEF film projector and learn about its history. We will mark the 130th anniversary of the first film screening in Riga with film screenings.
In the courtyard at 58a Miera Street, at the venue near the National Film School, a video projection will offer the chance to watch films by the Lumière brothers—Auguste and Louis—shot with an early film camera, the cinematograph. Latvian audiences first saw them on May 28, 1896, in Riga at 11 Kaļķu Street (the first film screening at Līvu Square is marked by a commemorative plaque). At the time, films shot with the cinematograph were called “living photographs,” and today we see that the name was accurate—thanks to these films, the 130-year-old past is still alive! The film program is 15 minutes long and will be shown repeatedly without intermissions. During Museum Night from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
The VEF film projector, which was available in both 16 mm and 35 mm versions, was manufactured at the Latvian State Electrical Engineering Factory in the second half of the 1930s. In 1935, a prototype of the projector was created, with which films were screened for Latvian Prime Minister Kārlis Ulmanis and government representatives; however, production and sales of the projector began in 1936, so we can celebrate the 90th anniversary of the VEF projector. The VEF narrow-gauge film projector attests both to the high level of technological development achieved during the first phase of Latvia’s independence and to the ability to create a harmonious design in line with global fashion trends of the era!
Due to a lack of compatible parts, we can no longer operate the VEF film projector; therefore, we will introduce visitors to the analog film projection process using later-model
film projectors manufactured in the second half of the 20th century, such as the Soviet-made KN-15.
Admission to Museum Night events is free! We thank the VEF History Museum, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, the LKA National Film School, the Latvian Academy of Culture, Museum Night in Latvia, director Jānis Putniņš, and other friends of the Latvian Film Museum for their support!