INFO
WHAT IS DOG OF GOD ABOUT ?
Rotoscope animation sets the stage for this wild 17th century look at a woman accused of witchcraft whose trial reveals the presence of a werewolf in a deeply religious Livonian community’s midst.
In the 17th century Livonian village of Zaube, there’s something in the air, something potentially sinister and ripe with nightmarish ramifications. Several of the village’s residents can feel it: from the burly pastor’s scared, young errand boy to the local tavern’s maid.
The danger manifests itself loud and clear when the pastor accuses the maid of witchcraft, leading to a trial during which an elder man proclaims himself to be a werewolf — not the traditional Lon Chaney, Jr. kind of werewolf but, rather, one rooted in Latvian folklore and hewing closer to a mad shaman. How all this tension comes to a head will change the village and its surviving inhabitants forever.
WHO ARE THE TROUBLED MINDS BEHIND DOG OF GOD ?
Raitis and Lauris are directors, producers, editors, and screenwriters, often joined by their youngest brother Marcis as director of photography. Some call it a family business—but with their blend of arthouse, genre, and dark Baltic mysticism, it's more of a family thing than a business. The brothers began their creative journey in the DIY skateboarding video scene, moved into music videos, and found international success when their short Castratus the Boar won the Grand Prix at the Tampere Short Film Festival in 2015.
They later co-directed the docudrama Baltic Tribes: Last Pagans of Europe and their first feature film Troubled Minds, which premiered in the First Feature Competition at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. Apart from filmmaking, the brothers also play and compose music in two alternative rock bands—Soundarcade and Sonntags Legion.
Dog of God is their first co-directed animated film. But as it’s a rotoscope animation—shot entirely by their youngest brother and edited like a live-action feature—it can’t really be called a debut. In its style and mood, it follows the brothers’ distinct worldview—taking audiences to places and scenes some might not expect.
SPECS & CREDITS
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy, Historical, Thriller, Drama
TECHNIQUE: Rotoscope animation/ Live action (diverse techniques)
DURATION: 95’
LANGUAGE: Latvian (English subtitles)
YEAR: 2025
DIRECTOR: Lauris Abele, Raitis Abele
LEAD ARTIST: Harijs Grundmanis
LEAD ANIMATOR: Aigars Gercans
PRODUCER: Raitis Abele, Kristele Pudane
CO-PRODUCER: Giovanni Labadessa
SCREENWRITER: Lauris Abele, Raitis Abele, Ivo Briedis, Harijs Grundmanis
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Marcis Abele
COMPOSER: Lauris Abele
SOUND DESIGNER: Enrico Zavatta
EDITOR: Raitis Abele, Lauris Abele
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Zanda Zeidaka
COSTUME DESIGNER: Liga Krasone
MAKE-UP ARTIST: Zane Žilinska, Anete Sidlovska
CAST: Jurgis Spulenieks, Kristians Karelins, Einars Repse,
Agate Krista, Regnars Vaivars, Armands Bergis
SALES AGENT: Media Movie