Every evening, veteran anchorman Howard Beale informs the world about what is new and important through his news broadcast on the National Network. Howard’s ratings are declining, and the executives want to replace him with a new face. Unwilling to leave, Howard announces that he will commit suicide live on air during his final broadcast. Suddenly, he becomes a sensation, and his following rapidly grows—he turns into a rambling old man denouncing the hypocrisies of the times. The National Network soon realises that having a so-called “mad prophet” on air is far more captivating than traditional news. And it is going to send the ratings through the roof.
The National Network
The National Network (Nacionālais kanāls), 2025
National Theatre of Latvia, Large Hall
CREDITS
Director
Matīss Kaža
Playwrights
Lee HallPaddy Chayefsky
Stage Designer
Reinis Dzudzilo
Costume Designer
Krista Vindberga
Choreographer
Ramona Levane
Video Artist
Toms Zeļģis
Producer
Anna Vekmane
Composer
Marta Ansone
Light Artist
Oskars Pauliņš
Generation of scenographic interior images (AI)
Oļa Golovko
STILLS
Matīss Kaža
Matīss Kaža is an Academy Award-winning Latvian producer, director and writer. He is best known for co-writing and producing the animated feature film FLOW (2024) by Gints Zilbalodis, which won the first ever Golden Globe and Oscar for an independent animated feature. Recent producing credits include SISTERS (2022, Warsaw Film Festival 1+2 Competition Winner) by Linda Olte, DROWNING DRY (2024, two awards in the Locarno Main Competition) by Laurynas Bareiša.
Matīss has directed and written for live action, documentary and the theatre, including NEON SPRING (2022, Edinburgh Intl. Film Festival) and critically acclaimed performances at the Latvian National Theatre, like SOFT POWER (2023) and THE NATIONAL NETWORK (2025).
He teaches film directing at the Latvian Academy of Culture.
Website designed & coded by Dans Jirgensons & Bartek Pierściński.
© 2025 Matīss Kaža