The state of affairs at the Belarusfilm national film studio and in the Belarusian filmmaking industry as a whole is extremely unsatisfactory, investment in cinema is not yielding results, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a meeting to discuss Belarus’ filmmaking industry development prospects on 10 June, BelTA has learned.
The head of state noted that the decision to hold a meeting on this topic was made long ago. According to him, the current situation at the film studio and in the filmmaking industry as a whole is highly unsatisfactory. "The country has created conditions for the development of domestic cinema and, in particular, Belarusfilm," the president emphasized. However, Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that the industry is not just failing to yield returns: it is operating at a loss. "Neither the state nor the audience sees any results," the president stated.
According to the head of state, for most Belarusians domestic cinema ended with “In August of 1944” and “The Brest Fortress”. "There is simply nothing to watch!" Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked. "The family, youth, and children's audiences have been completely lost."
“I don't need you to tell me about your breakthroughs in working with audiences or the number of screenings you organize for labor collectives," the president added. "We understand that there is no profit in the domestic market. We are a small country with a small population and market size (though we often talk about the market, we don't want to be under its conditions). It is difficult to make a profit from distribution. However, if we create a good film, we can make a profit even here. But we can't sell our films abroad because we have nothing to offer. And the competition is fierce."
Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that at one time, a full modernization of the Belarusfilm studio was carried out, and everything was done as requested by industry representatives. Modern equipment was installed, and significant funds were invested. "The investment the state made in Belarusian cinema has not paid off," the president stated.
The head of state cited the modernization of equipment in the pavilions for filming TV projects at the studio as an example. The main requirement was to do everything as independently as possible and make the best use of financial resources. The same approach should be applied now to Belarusfilm as a whole.
Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that there have been no major domestic film releases recently, and even TV channels mostly broadcast films of past years, which are no longer relevant for modern audiences, especially given the wide range of channels available for viewers to choose from.
"We certainly must not forget our roots: Belarusfilm has a rich heritage. But we need to adapt to modern times," the president emphasized. He also warned filmmakers against overusing violence, shootings, and similar scenes in pursuit of current trends. The Belarusian leader believes that society should not become accustomed to such content. He is convinced that such scenes are neither a necessary feature of modern films nor a guarantee of success with audiences. If Belarus offers good alternatives, people will choose to watch domestic films, the president said. “But for now, there is no alternatives.”
The head of state asked what is preventing the film studio from capturing the audience’s attention, at least in the way it happens in neighboring Russia. "Don't say that they have abundant funds to pour it into cinema. That is not true. They know how to manage money. Most of the funding comes from private investors, who invest in worthy projects," the president remarked.
Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that there is no extra money in the budget to finance Belarusfilm, so the studio should not expect additional funding, despite the recent appointment of a new head of the studio. "As far as I remember, this is already the eighth or ninth team. And every time when a new team comes, we allocated money. But nothing has changed. So there is only one solution. Don’t take offense, I will put it figuratively, since you like metaphors: imagine that you are in a territory surrounded by a bared wire (I sometimes bring up this metaphor when I talk to peasants) - within this territory you are free to do whatever you want - you have a team of 320 people, so do whatever you want, it is your business. The main thing is to ensure that your ideas are aligned with our ideology," he said. The president agreed with the well-known statement that cinema is the most important art form and it should be developed in the country. However, he stressed that the Belarusfilm studio need to rely primarily on its own resources rather than endless state support. There is a set number of employees, facilities and equipment: everything must be used wisely and efficiently to achieve results.
"Keep in mind: there will be no extra money. No one will give you any funds for a new team. And if you, together with the culture minister, do not put things here in order by 1 September, measures will be extremely tough. And don’t think that we will simply fire you," the Belarusian leader said, addressing to the studio head.
The head of state emphasized the complex geopolitical situation around Belarus. "We are like an island [of stability and peace]. Do you think it is easy [to maintain stability and peace]? No, it takes a lot of effort, especially from the president. So, please, free me from dealing with filmmaking," he stated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the first step should be to find at least three qualified directors who are eager to work. "They will form a team, propose scripts, and outline the entire directing process for you. So act. This is where you need to start," the head of state remarked. "You need to begin with talented directors. And we have such people in Belarus. Quite a few of them."
The same approach should be applied to training young professionals and working with the Belarusian State Academy of Arts. "We need to start from the very beginning, from the place where personnel are trained. Vladimir Borisovich [Pertsov, First Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration] and the head of the Belarus President Administration have been given a clear task to put things in this alma mater in order, personally oversee the quality of education and how students are trained there. Otherwise, you won’t produce a single modern, emotionally gripping film," the head of state instructed. Education there must be oriented towards practice, the president believes. "Theory is necessary. But students need to practice at a film set," he emphasized.
The president called for swift action to develop the Belarusian filmmaking industry. The state will provide support where it is truly needed. "The state is well-managed. People often say that we have a dictatorship. Well, this dictatorship will work in your favor," Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.
The president pointed out that he has many issues to discuss with the Culture Ministry, and remedying the situation is the personal responsibility of the newly appointed minister, Ruslan Chernetsky. "You won't be able to work as you did before. The Culture Ministry must be more active. But it will be challenging without the government and the President Administration. That is where support is needed," he emphasized.
During the meeting, the head of state asked the speakers to report on what is lacking to create high-quality and popular films. "I repeat: I am ready to help you. I am not just the president who controls financial resources. If necessary, I will personally get involved with great pleasure," the Belarusian leader assured. "We will pay based on results, starting tomorrow. We will not make any advances without seeing results, except in production. If you are making a film and experts and investors agree (with someone in charge of the project) that it is worth it, we will provide a small advance to get started. If you produce a good product, we will not hesitate to invest more. Especially in good cinema, because we have a serious lack of quality films. Without these, we cannot progress. There can be no ideology without cinema," he said.
"Create any distribution system, submit it to us and we will approve it. We have many things under control. You have enough resources," Aleksandr Lukashenko said urging to deliver results.
He also instructed officials to analyze the situation at other cultural institutions. "Everything must be transparent. Make sure that honest people are working there. And payments should go to those who are working hard and producing results. If there is work and results, there won't be any complaints. But if there are no results, then there will be none," the president said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko explained that he is so open about the problems at Belarusfilm because, in this case, the state has nothing to lose, even if some people take offense at his words. "I don't have any other choice. This is why I tell the minister and the head of Belarusfilm that if there are no results, they should expect a tough response. I asked them: 'Are you ready?'" he said. "They said they were. Then go and deliver the results. If you can't, consider that you have deceived me. So don't take offense. I am not saying it will happen. But in the worst case, if things don't work out, we won't lose anything. So let's not let the situation get absurd," he concluded.
