BBFF Team
Aija Dreimane
Chair of the Boston Baltic Film Festival, Aija born and raised in Riga, Latvia spent her childhood on movie sets, immersed in the world of cinema, where her mother worked as a casting director. Captivated by the magic of filmmaking from an early age, she found her calling within the industry, commencing her professional journey as a script supervisor, contributing to productions at Riga Film Studio as well as German and BBC films. Since relocating to the USA in 2007, Aija has become an integral part of the Boston Latvian community. As President of the American National Latvian League (ANLL/ALTS), she curates a rich array of cultural events, from theatre tours and concerts to exhibitions and film screenings. Film has always been a big part of Aija’s life and she is especially passionate about Baltic Cinema, championing both it’s treasured classics and vibrant new voices through Boston Baltic Film Festival since 2018. Aija studied at London Art College and holds the position of Production Manager at the Bedford Youth Performing Company in Bedford, NH.
Anne-Reet Ilves Annunziata
Anne-Reet Ilves Annunziata, PhD, serves as the Estonian Honorary Consul for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Her deep connection to Estonian culture began in childhood, when her national dress was the most cherished item in her wardrobe, symbolizing her pride in her heritage. Over the years, this passion has grown into a lifelong commitment to promoting Estonia’s arts and culture abroad. Estonia boasts a rich tradition in the performing arts, with film serving as a powerful expression that spans comedy, drama, and everything in between. Through her work, she fosters cultural understanding, supports emerging talent, and ensures that the vibrant stories of Estonia continue to reach audiences across the United States.
Anne-Reet says: “Working with the Boston Baltic Film Committee provides me the opportunity to examine new arrivals to the screen as well as to review and recognize the classics which were the roots of these often bold and outrageous new films.”
Patrīcija Briķe-Safina
Patrīcija graduated from the University of Economics and Culture in Riga with a professional bachelor’s degree in Management of Culture. During her studies, she embraced the opportunity to study abroad in Wroclaw, Poland, as part of the ERASMUS program, gaining valuable international experience and broadening her cultural perspective. In 2017, she moved to Boston with her husband, where she quickly became an active member of the local Latvian community. Patrīcija sings in the Boston Latvian Choir and participates actively in ALTS (American National Latvian League), contributing to cultural events and community initiatives. Her passion for culture extends beyond her professional work into her personal interests. She enjoys photography, capturing meaningful moments and landscapes, and beading, creating intricate and artistic designs. Through her involvement in the Latvian community and her creative hobbies, Patrīcija fosters cultural connection, celebrates her heritage, and shares the richness of Latvian arts with others in Boston and beyond.
Nele Kaps
Nele was born and raised in Estonia and is a talented graphic designer with over 15 years of experience in advertising, working with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to individual professionals. Today, she enjoys the flexibility and creativity of freelancing, bringing her expertise and unique vision to a variety of projects. Her early love of music, theatre, and the arts was sparked by her piano teacher, a passion that has grown into a lifelong love of film. Nele is also a devoted paper enthusiast, with a particular fondness for letterpress prints and Japanese pens. When she’s not at her computer, she enjoys exploring local museums or seeking out historic homes. Nele has been an active and contributing member of the Boston Estonian Society and previously served as its President, helping to promote Estonian culture and community engagement in the Boston area. Through her work and her hobbies, she combines creativity, curiosity, and cultural advocacy..
Renate Krūmala Kenney
Renate studied music as well as English language and literature, developing a deep appreciation for the arts early in life. During her college years, she became involved in the Baltic “Singing Revolution,” a movement that revived suppressed and forgotten folk songs and played a vital role in securing independence for the region. In 1991, Renate joined the newly established American Embassy in Riga, helping to create the first cultural and educational exchange programs between Latvia and the United States. Over the years, she has organized international conferences for UN agencies and the European Commission, promoting cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration. Currently, she serves as President of the Latvian Foundation, continuing her lifelong dedication to arts, culture, and public diplomacy. Through her work, Renate fosters mutual understanding and creative exchange, championing initiatives that bring people together and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Latvia and the broader Baltic region.
Lauris Lambergs
Lauris proudly serves as a Board member of ANLL/ALTS and has been actively involved in organizing the Boston Baltic Film Festival since 2020, helping bring Baltic cinema and culture to audiences in the United States. He is also the co-founder of Renaissance Wealth Advisors, a local wealth advisory firm specializing in guiding cross-border families toward long-term financial well-being. Lauris holds a B.A. in French from Duke University and an MBA from the Riga Business School, combining his international perspective with business expertise. Outside of his professional and cultural work, he is an avid athlete, playing competitive soccer, and has a passion for music, particularly classic alternative hits from the 1980s. Thanks in large part to the patience of his wife, Lauris has also developed an appreciation for Impressionist art and fine red wine. Through his diverse interests and commitments, he fosters both cultural engagement and meaningful personal connections in his community.
Gintaras Sekmokas
Gintaras Sekmokas was born in Kaunas, Lithuania, where he began developing technical skills in photography and visual documentation during his teenage years. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Kaunas Polytechnic Institute (now Kaunas University of Technology) and was actively engaged in experimental performance through the Kaunas Pantomime Theater. Early exposure to the work of filmmakers such as Tarkovsky, Fellini, and Antonioni shaped his approach to visual storytelling.
Since relocating to Boston in 1994, Gintaras has worked at Harvard Medical School as a web developer and completed advanced video editing coursework at Harvard Extension School. His production work includes filming interviews for Lithuanian Television and creating video profiles of scientists and students at Harvard Medical School. Since the early 2000s, he has documented concerts, theatrical productions, conferences, and large-scale events. He joined the Boston Baltic Film Festival team in 2025, contributing both technical expertise and creative production support.
Gita Līgure
Gita, a longtime board member and former president of ALTS/ANLL is passionate about organizing cultural events in her spare time. As an active member of ALTS, Gita has organized and hosted concerts, art exhibitions, theater guest visits, and celebrations for the Boston Latvian community.
Gita graduated from UMass Boston with a BS in Computer Science and from Bentley University with an MS in Human Factors in Information Design. After a long career as a software engineer, Gita is now a Usability Researcher and enjoys improving product design and functionality based on a deep understanding of people's purposes and needs.
Gita grew up in Riga, Latvia, and now lives in the Boston area. Gita enjoys all kinds of hands-on projects, including baking, knitting and helping her husband fix their almost 100-year-old home.
Laura A. Sargent
An experienced event and project manager with a background in museums and academic institutions, Laura serves as Event Manager at Harvard University’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, where she manages exhibitions, oversees public programs, and supports faculty and guest engagement. With more than a decade at Harvard University, including roles at the Mahindra Humanities Center, the Department of Art, Film, and Visual Studies, and the Harvard Art Museums, Laura has coordinated large-scale seminars, exhibitions, and supported cross-departmental initiatives. She serves as a Lithuanian Language Preceptor at Harvard and has taught at the Saturday Lithuanian School in Milton. Laura holds an ALM in Museum Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Harvard Extension School, a Certificate in Graphic Design from the School of the MFA, a BA in art history from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vilnius, and an AS in interior design.
Sandra Kronits-Sipols
Sandra is a first-generation American Latvian whose professional career centers on education and Baltic community leadership. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from the College of Wooster, with graduate studies at Michigan State University. She previously served as Vice President of the Inly School Board of Trustees and spent thirteen years as Director of the Latvian Center Gaŗezers Summer High School in Michigan, advancing educational and cultural programming for North American youth of Latvian heritage. Sandra is also past Chair of the Baltic Nations Committee of Michigan, where she led cultural and civic initiatives for over fifteen years.
Her interest in Baltic film has deepened through extended time in Latvia. She has served as a Boston Baltic Film Festival panel discussion moderator in 2019, 2022, and 2023, and has received multiple awards from the American Latvian Association, the Latvian Center Gaŗezers, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Latvia’s Ministry of Education and Science.
Rima Girnius
Rima began her career as a Radio Editor for the Sunday Student Program “Juventus” at Lithuanian Radio and TV before relocating to the US. She met her husband, Tomas, during his first visit to Lithuania after the Baltic Singing Revolution, where she actively participated. In the US, Rima dedicated her career to the health insurance industry while actively engaging in various roles within both American and Lithuanian communities serving on the Lithuanian American Community (LAC) National Counsel, presiding over the LAC Boston chapter, and contributing to the Lithuanian Federal Credit Union (LFCU) “Taupa” Board of Directors. Rima also played leadership roles in Ateitis.org and the Duxbury, MA Rotary club.
Rima holds MS in Civil Engineering and MA in Journalism and Communications from Lithuanian universities, and MA in Applied Sociology from UMASS Boston.
Currently residing in Duxbury, MA, Rima shares her life with her husband Tomas.
Sondra Litvaityte
Sondra, originally from Šiauliai, Lithuania, began her international career in 1998 after moving to Italy to study in the IB program at United World College on a Soros Foundation scholarship. She earned a degree in political science and international relations from La Sapienza University in Rome and served for over 15 years at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Italy and the Consulate General of Lithuania in New York.
She participated in Villa Lituania by Nomeda & Gediminas Urbonas, which represented Lithuania at the 2007 Venice Biennale, and organized Ray Bartkus’s Gardens installation at Federal Hall in New York for Lithuania’s Centennial in 2018. A founding member of the New York Baltic Film Festival, Sondra is dedicated to promoting Baltic cinema in the U.S. She currently serves as Ambassador of Šiauliai to the USA and is researching a future documentary on Victor David Brenner.
Jonathan Vilms
Jonathan is a recent college graduate who majored in both Cinema/Media Studies and Computer Science at Carleton College. During his four years in Minnesota he also helped run the Carleton Film Society, which programmed arthouse screenings for students at the school, and also hosted multiple radio shows on the college's own KRLX 88.1FM, where he shared music and discussed a variety of topics ranging from film to current events.
His thesis short film, Scratch, released in 2025 and was selected by the Massachusetts International Film Festival as part of its online shorts programming.
After graduating this past year, he joined the BBFF as a new committee member. While helping plan the upcoming 2026 festival, he has continued his work as a filmmaker and anticipates the release of his current project, Denizens, in 2026.
During the summer, Jonathan has also worked for many years to run the Suvekodu Estonian Children's Summer Camp on Long Island, as well as working as a scout leader at the Järvametsa Estonian Scout Camp in New Jersey.
Marilem Soodla Ferentinos
Marilem has always been passionate about sharing her Estonian heritage. She was one of the organizers of the Baltic Centennial in Boston 2018, is an active member of the Boston Estonian Society, and is the secretary of the Baltic American Society of New England.
For the past several years she has been part of a writing group in Cambridge, capturing her experiences of her family's escape from Estonia during WWII, of living in a refugee camp in Germany and of growing up in a multicultural community with a large Estonian population in southern New Jersey. Marilem also helped Helga Merits, a noted filmmaker in Holland, in making of a documentary The Paradox of Seabrook Farms.
She recently retired from extensive careers in the biopharmaceutical industry and in science education. She has also studied Estonian handicrafts in Finland, Estonia and the USA, and has enjoyed interpreting them to contemporary designs and items.