The Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies is pleased to announce that Marta Kalniņa has been awarded the 2026-2027 Jānis Grundmanis Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship for Study in the U.S.
The Jānis Grundmanis Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship, established in the memory of Dr. Jānis Grundmanis, is an annual fellowship of $20,000 for graduate or postgraduate study in the United States. Recipients of the fellowship must be citizens of the Republic of Latvia, speak Latvian, and have their permanent residence in Latvia. Preference is given to applicants studying in the field of humanities or social sciences.
The 2026 applications were evaluated by the AABS 2025-2026 Grants and Awards Committee consisting of AABS VP for Professional Development Dr. Kaarel Piirimäe, AABS President Dr. Jörg Hackmann, and AABS Director-at-Large Dr. Dovilė Budrytė. Learn about the other 2026-2027 recipients here.
Marta Kalniņa is a Latvian film director and screenwriter dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and building lasting collaborations between filmmakers in the Baltics, the United States, and beyond. She is currently completing her first year of the MFA in Film Directing and Screenwriting at Columbia University, where she has achieved strong academic results while further developing her artistic voice. Working within a rigorous three-year program alongside acclaimed faculty and a diverse international community, Kalniņa continues to expand both her creative practice and professional network. With a globally informed perspective, she aims to bring Latvian and Baltic stories to wider audiences and strengthen their presence on the international stage.
Project Overview
The AABS Jānis Grundmanis Fellowship is essential to Kalniņa’s ability to continue her studies, making it possible for her to fully dedicate herself to the next stage of her MFA at one of the world’s leading film programs. Building on the foundation of her first year, she is now advancing into more ambitious creative work, including the development of new films and scripts while further strengthening her skills in directing and screenwriting. This support is not only transformative but indispensable, allowing her to remain fully immersed in a demanding and collaborative environment and to continue building creative partnerships that will extend well beyond her time at Columbia.