Kārlis Arnolds Avots absent from "Uļa" premiere as he films Amazon Prime series in Ireland
While director Viesturs Kairišs's film "Uļa" received a standing-ovation premiere in Latvia, lead actor Kārlis Arnolds Avots was not present, as he has spent several months in Ireland working intensively on the Amazon Prime series "Bloodaxe".
Latvian cinemas have hosted the premiere of "Uļa", a feature film by director Viesturs Kairišs that took several years to make. Audiences greeted the special screenings with standing ovations, and the film's creative team was present at the events.
However, one of the film's lead actors, Kārlis Arnolds Avots, could not be met at the premiere screenings. It turns out he is currently based in Ireland, where an intensive filming schedule has been underway on a daily basis for several months. There, the actor is involved in the production of the Amazon Prime series "Bloodaxe".
Two parallel storylines
So while Latvian audiences welcomed the film's creators with warm ovations at "Uļa" screenings, the actor playing the lead role has been occupied abroad with a large international production. His absence from the premiere events suggests that his work schedule in recent months has been tied closely to the series shoot rather than to events back home in Latvia.
The situation reflects a broader trend of Latvian actors increasingly being cast in projects by major international producers and streaming platforms, which require extended presence at filming locations outside the country. As a result, they are often unable to take part in important events surrounding domestic films, including premieres.
Meanwhile, "Uļa" continues to draw the attention of audiences in Latvia, and the standing ovations at its premiere screenings point to strong interest in and appreciation of the film among local viewers, despite the physical absence of its lead actor from those events.
