Director and producer Askolds Saulītis was born on June 5, 1966 in Liepāja, studied at Liepāja Secondary School No. 5 (1972–1984), Department of Pedagogy at Liepāja Secondary School of Applied Arts (1984–1986).
In 1987 he decided to work in a Riga film studio, went to Riga and became an assistant worker in Aivars Freimanis ‘feature film “Life” (1989), was an administrator in Arvīds Krievs’ feature film “Ieva’s Paradise Garden” (1990). – “XXX” (1989) received the “Grand Prix” at the Baltic Independent Film Festival, but “Opera” (1991) was awarded at the Gdańsk Film Festival (Poland).
Saulītis received his first “Big Kristaps” for his diploma work film “Red and Brown” (1999), as well as his film “Source of Youth” (2001).
He has also made films such as Debt to Afghanistan (2008), Frici and Blondes (2009), The Awakening of the Awakening (2013), The Baltic Way of Freedom (2014), Songwriting (2018) and others.
Of particular note is his 2003 film “Keep Smiling!”, Which not only received five nominations for the “Kristaps the Great” award and won the Best Screenplay category, but was also internationally nominated for the “Nike” award of the Russian Film Academy.
Saulītis’ film “Festive Anatomy” (2005) for organizing the celebration day on November 18 in Riga has also received five “Great Kristaps” nominations (award for the best editing).
One of the latest films made by Askolds Saulītis was “Eight Stars” (2017) dedicated to Latvian riflemen, which was made in the program “Latvian Films for the Centenary of Latvia”.
