Jānis Streičs, a Latvian film director and screenwriter, died on March 5, 2026, at the age of 89.
Born in Preiļi, Latvia, he was also an artist. His 1991 comedy film The Child of Man was Latvia‘s submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 65th Academy Awards, though it did not make the shortlist.
The film later finished as runner-up for the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival Rights of the Child Award in 1994. In 1978, Theater, in 1981 A Limousine the Colour of Midsummer’s Eve, and in 1991 The Child of Man received the Latvian Film Prize as the best film of the year.
Jānis Streičs (26 September 1936 – 5 March 2026) was a Latvian film director and artist. His 1991 comedy film The Child of Man was runner-up for the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival Rights of the Child Award in 1994. It had previously been Latvia’s submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 65th Academy Awards, but did not make the shortlist.