The boldest Belarusian film of the year entitled II (Two) was included in the program of the Brussels festival Bridges. East of West Film Days. In total, 15 films from 6 countries will be presented at the IFF (International Film Festival). The Grand Prix of MIFF Listapad Atlantis directed by Valentin Vasyanovich, as well as the winner of the festival The Criminal Man directed by Dmitry Mamulia and the film-participant of the IFF Sasha’s Hell directed by Nikita Lavretsky are among the films.
Bridges. Bridges. East of West Film Days is a film festival of the Belgian cultural centre Bozar dedicated to films from Eastern Europe countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It will be held for the third time from 22 to 26 January 2020.
“In 30 years after the fall of the Soviet Union the filmmakers of these countries have developed their voice of change. Although there are very few cinema shows of their films in our country, international festivals deservedly reward more and more directors from this region,” comment the organizers of the festival.
The Bridges film festival which takes place in Brussels, the political center of Europe, focuses on the cinematography of the Eastern Partnership countries, and thus it is a bridge (as the name of the forum suggests) between Eastern and Western Europe. “This is an important platform that gives an opportunity to show Belarusian cinema to Belgian audience and cinema professionals. In 2018, the first year of the festival, its organizers, alas, could not choose the right Belarusian film for the program. However, two films Crystal Swan directed by Daria Zhuk and Next Day directed by Julia Shatun represented Belarus at the festival last year. While this year, as far as I know, it was not that simple for the organizers to choose one from the Belarusian films. I think it reflects the professional growth of our filmmakers. Of course, the Belarusian film industry cannot compare with the opportunities that exist thanks to film reforms and state support in, say, Ukraine and Georgia, but it is obvious that there is a great potential in the independent Belarusian cinema. Also, it is a great honor for our films to be represented in the program in which the triumphers of the Venice film festival (as well as MIFF Listapad) participate,” says Nikolay Lavrenyuk, producer of the film II, coordinator of the national competition of MIFF Listapad.
“I’m excited about the films presented in the program. It is a great responsibility to be among them. And of course, we are so happy that Brussels and guests of the festival will see our film, ” says Vlada Senkova.
The teen drama II will be screened at Minsk cinemas Pioner, Raketa and Falcon Club Boutique Cinema until December 25. In the Belarusian media the film is called “the boldest Belarusian film” (by CityDog.by), “the film to be shown in all schools of the country” (by KYKY.ORG), “the film II is a test for our response to other people’s pain and injustice” (by Gazetaby). In Brest, Mogilev and Grodno the film will be released in January.
The film II was created by the Center for Visual and Performing Arts “ART Corporation” in collaboration with UNESCO IITE. Click the hashtag #ТолькоПапеНеГовори or go to the official pages of II (on the website of “ART Corporation” and social networks @iifilm2019).