Anton Sidarenka: Belarusians are willing to pay for their own movies

A film frame from the movie "TEST-730"

"Our movie" project  started in Minsk: a series of movie screenings and discussions about contemporary independent Belarusian movies with their authors.

The main goal of the project is to introduce young Belarusian filmmakers to the public.

- The project was created in the"Running turtle" center, after its managers Natalia Bruzhnik and Leanid Kalitsenia arranged the Bulbamovie Festival in the art cinema, - told Anton Sidarenka, cinema expert and moderator to "EuroBelarus" Information Service. – In one day we sold out the tickets for four halls for three days of screening. So it was decided that some kind of a psychological barrier was overcome and the Belarusians are ready to pay for their own movie.

 The idea to show the Belarusian movies on the big screen resonated: Art cinema in Dzerzhinsky avenue offered to allocate a hall for screening once a month. The organizers decided not to stop at the windy films but to show fundamentally problematic movies designed for intellectual audience.

- But we must bear in mind that each screening must be approved in the relevant institution.

The "Our movie" project attracts the audience by showing independent Belarusian authors.

- The word "independent" is relative. Honestly, if the "BelarusFilm" releases an interesting film, we will be happy to show it and invite the managers of the film company. In the next few shows we will present course works and diploma projects of the graduates of the Academy of Arts.

The movie, which opened the project is “TEST-730” directed by Daria Karol. The film tells a story of a young choreographer,  geologist and a physician distributed in small towns and country villages after the graduation. In that place their desire to pursue their dreams is put to the test. Funds for making the film were raised at the crowdfunding platform, the premiere took place in the non-competition program of the film festival "Listapad" in 2016.

- Yes, I believe that distribution is a problem: a person has no power to control where they go and what they do. But the film is about how each problem can be transformed into an opportunity, - explains the director, and calls her own movie "art and documentary."

According to Daria, Europe gave positive reviews to the film. The reaction of Minsk was controversial.

Daria’s characters were accused of decadent mood and whining, she retorts: it is a rebellion.

- I wanted to make a movie about the characters united by a common problem. This film is inspiration for people who find themselves in a similar situation.

- The film is a clear representation of our Belarusian temperament. There’s no riot on screen but we have it inside, - believes Anton Sidarenka.

The next screening of "Our movie" will be held at the art cinema on February 22. The audience will be shown a Russian movie called "Anamim", which was made by Uladzimir Kazlou, the Belarusian film director. Critics called the movie scandalous.