Press releases

MINSK, 26 September (BelTA) - The 25th edition of the Minsk International Film Festival Listapad has a new partner, Minsk Planetarium, which is preparing the Fulldome Competition program for the audience, BelTA learned from the organizers.

The program, which is dedicated to innovations in the film industry, will feature more than 20 motion pictures from different countries: popular scientific films, musical shows, animation. The competition program will be held as part of the Industry Days Bel:Cinema on 3-4 November.

Minsk International Fulldome Festival will show the achievements and the technologies of one of the youngest and most promising areas in the film industry – Fulldome Cinema, an immersive dome-based video projection environment.

Fulldome Cinema has been developed specifically for planetariums. It creates an immersive atmosphere when the audience feels they are experiencing what is shown on screen. Several digital projectors create a three-dimensional picture. The viewers are plunged into the atmosphere of the film, into the action itself. Participation effect sets Fulldome Cinema apart from traditional cinema where we sit in front of a square screen or apart from 3D and VR where we have to use special glasses which makes watching experience inconvenient,” said Alexander Mikulich, Head of the Minsk Planetarium.

The competition program consists of three sections: the Popular Scientific Documentaries Competition, Animation, and Short Films. Apart from the international jury, the audience will vote for the People’s Choice Award. Studios and planetariums from all over the world have been invited to take part in the forum. The competition includes films that have already taken part in Fulldome Festivals.

Minsk Planetarium will screen films from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, the UK, France, China, Poland, Spain, Germany, Canada, Japan, Greece and the United States. More information is available on the official website of the festival.

Minsk Planetarium will host Q&A sessions with the creators, cinematographers’ presentations, workshops with cinema experts, astrophotography exhibitions, and demonstration of the modern achievements of Fulldome Cinema.

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.