The Association for Advancement of Baltic Studies (AABS), has awarded Film student Marta Kalnina the Jānis Grundmanis Postgraduate Fellowship for study in the US. Kalnina, Latvian director and screenwriter, works to tell unrepresented stories from the Baltics. After earning her First-Class Honours BA in Film Production from Solent University in England, she is thrilled to move to New York and begin classes towards her MFA.
“The AABS Grundmanis Postgraduate Fellowship has a remarkable legacy of empowering exceptional scholars and visionaries in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. To be selected as a recipient this year is a true honor—one I carry with infinite gratitude,” Kalnina wrote. Past recipients of the AABS fellowship include Helēna Šania Volbeta in 2023, also a Film student.
The AABS promotes research and education in Baltic studies by providing a forum for scholars working on projects related to all facets of Baltic studies. The Jānis Grundmanis Postgraduate Fellowship specifically grants one student the opportunity to study within the fields of humanities or social sciences. Recipients of the fellowship must speak Latvian and have a permanent residence in the Republic of Latvia.
“Receiving the AABS Jānis Grundmanis Postgraduate Fellowship for Study in the US is nothing short of life-changing—it’s the key that unlocks a dream I’ve nurtured for seven years,” wrote Kalnina.
“I had long dreamt of visiting New York,” she continued, “but vowed not to set foot in the city unless I had a real purpose there. Now, I arrive with purpose, passion, and a path ahead.”
Throughout her time in the program, Kalnina will create short films, gather production skills, and produce a feature-length script. She looks forward to embracing a community of writers and storytellers after coming from a career in social media production.
