Filming begins in Latvia on the Belgian-Dutch co-production feature film "Strokes of Madness"
Filming has begun in Riga on the international Belgian-Dutch feature film "Strokes of Madness". The project is produced by Belgian film studio Menuetto Film, in coproduction with Tarantula (Belgium) and Volya Films (the Netherlands), with local studio Mistrus Media managing the shoot in Latvia. The film's story is set in a futuristic city and filming in Riga will continue until the end of June, after which the shoot will continue in Belgium through early July.
The film was created by Lander Haverals and Dominique Van Malder. "Strokes of Madness" centres on a young violinist named Wolf, who gradually loses his grip on reality, forcing those close to him to confront the limits of their ability to help. It is an emotionally intense psychological drama about love, madness, art, and the price of excellence. The story is deeply personal for the director, who lost his younger brother to suicide.
"Our film explores the fine line between art and emotional fragility, between excellence and self-destruction. Latvia, with its landscapes and historical (Soviet) spaces, offers us a wonderful, original environment," says director Lander Haverals.
The lead role of Wolf is played by young Belgian talent and Benelux rising star Thibaud Dooms, known from films such as the Belgian “Skunk” (dir. Koen Mortier, 2023), and the upcoming “The Entertainment system is down” (dir. Ruben Ostlund, 2026), with the cast also featuring Dara Oguntubi, Janne Desmet, and Wim Willaert.
“We were given a warm welcome by the Latvian crew. It’s always nerve-wracking to start a project in a country that was, until then, unfamiliar to us. But from the very first introduction and meetings, we felt reassured about this collaboration. The professional support, dedication and commitment shown by both Mistrus Media and the crew on set are a major asset to the success of this project.” says Kevin Hoed, Head of Productions at Menuetto Film.
The film is supported by the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF), Screen Flanders, the Dutch Film Fund, Centre du Cinema et de l’Audiovisuel de la FWB (CCA) & the Belgian Tax Shelter.