Smart Supports Young Belarusian Filmmakers: Second Round of the Belarusian Filmmakers Network Launched.
The world of film is characterized by creativity, innovation, and the ability to tell stories that touch us all. But what happens when political circumstances disrupt this creative process? What happens to filmmakers who can no longer work in their own country? The Belarusian Filmmakers Network (BFN) provides an answer to these questions and offers a platform for young Belarusian filmmakers who want not only to survive through their work but also to grow and develop further.
As a cooperative that supports freelancers and self-employed professionals in Germany, it is natural for Smart to realise projects that reflect our core values: solidarity, collaboration, and the development of sustainable career paths. Beyond supporting solo self-employed professionals in their daily challenges, our structure as a cooperative enables us to implement public-funded projects initiated by our members. Smart’s involvement in BFN is one such member-driven project. We are proud to support the Belarusian Filmmakers Network in partnership with our Vilnius-based partner organization SINGO, as it enters its second year.
The Belarusian Filmmakers Network: A Lifeline for Young Belarusian Filmmakers
BFN was founded in 2020 in Vilnius to provide a platform for young Belarusian filmmakers who were forced into exile due to political circumstances. Today, it is open to Belarusian filmmakers both abroad and within Belarus. Here, they can network, develop their projects, and establish themselves in the European film industry. For us at SMartDe, this is a project that perfectly aligns with our mission: to support creatives in realizing their professional dreams – even under challenging conditions.
The Focus Areas of the Program:
This year’s support program focuses on three main areas:
- 1. Integration: The integration of Belarusian filmmakers into the European film industry.
- 2. Institutionalization: Building sustainable structures to offer long-term perspectives for creatives.
- 3. Training: Providing qualified training to equip participants with the necessary tools for their careers.
A highlight of the program is the Microbudget Incubator, an online film school that started in June 2024 and will continue until the end of November. Here, participants work on their own microbudget projects and receive valuable feedback from experts in Europe and Belarus. The Synergy BarCamp from October 7-10, 2024, and participation in the FilmFestival Cottbus, which takes place from November 5-19, 2024, offer young filmmakers important opportunities for networking and further education.
Why Is This Commitment So Important?
At a time when the government in Belarus is increasingly trying to sever people’s connections to the outside world, the work of BFN is crucial. As Leonid Kalitenya, film producer and board member of the network, aptly states: “There is no alternative but to work together. Either we network, or we cannot survive in our industry.”
The Network as a Catalyst
The Belarusian Filmmakers Network is more than just a support program – it is a catalyst for the creative development of young filmmakers who face significant challenges due to the political situation in Belarus. The platform supports them not only in realizing their projects but also in their long-term integration into the European cultural landscape. It offers filmmakers not only the opportunity to continue their careers but also to feel part of a global community of creatives.
Smart in Germany as Part of a European Network
SMartDe, as a cooperative for sustainable self-employment and social security for freelancers, is part of a solidarity network that aims to improve the working conditions of creatives and the self-employed. With more than 90,000 members in the European SMart network, we stand for a shared economy and the development of sustainable work structures. Through our involvement in the Belarusian Filmmakers Network, we once again demonstrate our willingness to take responsibility and support creative projects that align with our values.
For us, it’s clear: Filmmaking knows no borders. And we will continue to work to ensure that creative minds receive the support they need, even in difficult times.
The Belarusian Filmmakers Network is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office within the program “Expanding Cooperation with Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries and Russia” (ÖPR Program).
