How to revive the Belarusian cinema

Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service

The fact that it's possible to make high-quality films in Belarus is proven at many film festivals. But why do they never get to theaters? What are the laws of our cinema and what to do with them.

Last weekend VI Belarusian Film Festival Bulbamovie 2016 took place in Minsk. During the festival film and media experts led by culturologist and journalist Maksim Zhbankou tried to outline the position of the national film industry as well as to identify its weak points and prospects.

Can it be so that the new wave of Belarusian Cinema is a phantom that we made up ourselves? Lidia Mikheeva, sociologist and culture analyst, believes that there is a big difference between making up and constructing.

Lidia Mikheeva. Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service
 

- We can say that the new wave in Russian cinema, which was represented by Zvyagintsev, Serebrennikov, etc., was a phantom as well. I think we have to construct the new wave of Belarusian Cinema. Compared with the year before last, I see many more highly interesting pieces and strong cinematographers.

Film critic named the movies, which amaze by high-level professionalism in her opinion. We can find such films as “Vartaunik” and “Souls Dead” (Bulbamovie 2016 winner) by Viktar Krasouski, another winner of this year festival “Twentysixteen”, films by Mikita Laurecki and Mitry Siamionau-Aleinikau among them. According to Lidia Mikheeva, films by these directors are beyond the "markers" of Belarusian cinema, they can be sent to world festivals and they will look worthy there.

- Perhaps "wave" is bit too loud, but there is a certain tectonic shift in the Belarusian cinema, - assures film producer Leanid Kalitsenia.

Leanid Kalitsenia. Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service

But if there really is such a shift in Belarusian cinema, why the films of our cinematographers almost never reach wide audience?

- It’s hard for the Belarusian cinema to get to theaters because of the lack of a really large-scale cinema, - said Pavel Lapo, Sony Walt Disney representative.

Pavel Lapo. Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service

-When releasing Belarusian cinema, one must understand how it will actually earn money- advises Siarhei Kozyrau, Director General of Interfilm Distribution.

It is also desirable to know your audience and to provide a film with well-organised PR and distribution, which is even more important than the actual shooting today.

On the one hand, considering the wide range of films offered online nowadays, audience became more selective. On the other hand, there appeared a creative environment of cinematographers, who can exchange ideas and thus create films of high-level quality.

- Such festivals as "Bulbamovie" and "Listapad" appeared. People not only shoot and watch their own films, they also watch and discuss other people's films, and this is very important - Anton Sidarenka stated.

Anton Sidarenka. Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service

- The projects produced by state are the disastrous and scandalous "Abel" and the new court story of "Arbuzik and Bebeshka". These two examples are enough for me to never make joint projects with our state, - says Leanid Kalitsenia.

Mitry Siamionau-Aleinikau. Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service