Press releases

MINSK, 3 October (BelTA) - Belarus’ National Competition at the 25th Minsk International Film Festival Listapad 2018 will be judged by international experts, the organizers told BelTA.

“Every year the National Competition program, one of the most important sections of the Minsk International Film Festival, presents the best new Belarusian films to the audience. Films, different in topics and genres, attract both national and foreign festival viewers. Cultivating the image of the modern cinema process in the country, Listapad finds it important to have the international jury who can determine the place of the Belarusian cinematography in the global context. Professionals from different lines of cinematography are invited to the jury of the National Competition: directors, producers, screenwriters, actors, film critics, representatives of international film festivals, and distributors. This year the jury is composed of Pascale Ramonda, festival agent from France, Renata Santoro, selector of the Venice Film Festival, and Daria Yurkevich, Belarusian film director”, the organizers said.

“National Competition is a special space for us. It is some kind of a laboratory. Since the modern Belarusian cinematography is actively taking shape and is only beginning to pivot towards the global film industry, it needs to be encouraged and directed. International experts help discover talents and bring their careers to new heights,” Igor Sukmanov, Program Director of “Listapad” noted.

Pascale Ramonda is a festival agent from France who actively supports independent films. She has over 15 years of experience of working in the international film industry. Observing the market evolution led her notice an unprecedented number of deserving art house films. In 2010, Pascale Ramonda founded her own company to promote and distribute independent films. She worked with films of such maestros as Guy Maddin, Jafar Panahi, and George Ovashvili.

Renata Santoro is a film researcher and selector of the Giornate Degli Autori program of the Venice Film Festival. She is a jury member of various film forums. As a lecturer she specializes in the audio-visual education.

Daria Yurkevich is a graduate of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts and French school Le Fresnoy, candidate of the University of Paris 8. Daria is working on her Ph.D. thesis on modern art. Besides, she makes feature films and documentaries and is a regular participant and prizewinner of prestigious international film festivals, including the Minsk IFF. Her feature film Mamie, Darya et la Chevre in 2014 and documentary Christ’s Easter in 2015 received National Competition Diplomas.

According to Igor Sukmanov, films will be judged by not just filmmakers and festival agents but the professionals with their own vision of the world and art. “Their ‘Fs’ and ‘As’ will be objective grades as they see the modern film processes in a rational and practical way. The destiny of a film depends in many ways on the jury members. It is a good opportunity for them to discover something new here. For us this is an opportunity to help Belarusian films to become more visible to international audience,” he said.

The 25th edition of the Minsk International Film Festival Listapad will be held on 2-9 November under the slogan Getting to Know the Big, Wide World and will be dedicated to famous director Kira Muratova. The founders of the festival are the Culture Ministry of Belarus and the Minsk City Hall. The festival is organized by the ART Corporation center of visual and performing arts. The general partner is Shchodraya Mastercard. Official partners include Kinovideoprokat of the Minsk City Hall, Falcon Club Cinema Boutique, Belavia national air carrier and Beltelecom. ByCard will be an official ticket operator. The festival is supported by the Belarusian TV and Radio Company, the National Film Studio Belarusfilm and the Forte advertising agency.