The amateur film festival in Polotsk will be held on a republican scale for the first time
Everyone's Filming!
Amateur filmmaking is becoming an increasingly accessible and popular form of creativity today. Thanks to the rapid development of technology, anyone can shoot their own film with a digital camera or even a smartphone if they wish.
Four years ago, the contest organizers set themselves the goal of uniting and supporting talented individuals, and creating fertile ground for the emergence of new stars in national cinema.
At the very beginning of the journey, their efforts to promote the project were united by Feoktist Fedotov, director of the Polotsk Film and Video Network, Alexey Golubev, editor of the Polotsk branch of the regional TV company "Skif," and Elena Astapova, deputy head, and now head of the Department of Ideological Work, Culture, and Youth Affairs of the Polotsk District Executive Committee.
– We didn't even expect, – recalls Elena Alexandrovna, – that our initiative would be so in demand. It turned out that people who love making films don't want to work in isolation and are interested in communication, but they lack opportunities for it. Our organizing committee was simply inundated with proposals for the further development of the contest.
Polotsk residents were the first in Belarus to offer amateur filmmakers a platform for exchanging experiences.
The idea was supported by authoritative partners from the National Film Studio "Belarusfilm," the Belarusian State Academy of Arts, and the Department of Television and Radio Broadcasting of the Institute of Journalism at Belarusian State University.
Contest organizers Alexey Golubev (first from left) and Elena Astapova (third from left) with the laureates of 2015
And seeing how popular the festival was becoming, the Ministry of Culture decided to take it under its wing. This year, by a resolution of the Council of Ministers, the "I Shoot Films" contest received republican status and was included in the list of events significant for the entire country.
With the Name of Tarich
The competition has historical roots. It was in Polotsk that the outstanding director and screenwriter, Honored Artist of the RSFSR Yuri Tarich, the founder of Belarusian cinematography, was born.
In 1926, Yuri Viktorovich shot the first domestic feature film "Forest Ballad," which became part of the golden fund of world cinema. The master's most famous film, "The Wings of a Peasant," was shown in countries in Europe, Asia, and America, and became a starting point for the work of many Soviet and Russian directors.
It is believed that Yuri Tarich invented wings for Belarusian cinema, which helped subsequent generations of filmmakers to fly. And today, the competition named after him accumulates the energy of talented youth, helping them spread their wings for further creative flight.
In 2010, a bust of Yuri Tarich was unveiled near the Polotsk "Rodina" cinema, funded by "Belarusfilm." The organization of the festival became the next step in perpetuating his memory.
Having competition diplomas is a significant bonus when entering the Academy of Arts. And those who wish to turn their hobby into a profession can certainly take advantage of this.
Another Level
If the first competition gathered only 12 participants, then the third one had five times more. Last year, the organizing committee received 158 creative works from 7 countries – Belarus, Russia, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Georgia, and Moldova. The creation of an official website (http://snimaukino.ru/), which contains all the information about the event, as well as the opening of a special VKontakte group, contributed to the surge in activity.
The jury members also noted a significant qualitative leap. The competition featured not only excellent documentary and staged films but also wonderful works in advertising, essays, social videos, and music clips.
More than 50 works have already been submitted from different cities of Belarus, Russia, and Germany
This year, as reported by Alexey Golubev, the competition has already received over 50 entries from various cities in Belarus, Russia, and Germany.
Applications are being accepted until November 10 in nine nominations, one of which is thematic. The theme "The World Began in Polotsk..." was chosen considering the significant anniversary dates – the 1155th anniversary of the ancient city and the 500th anniversary of Belarusian printing.
Works can be submitted in any genre, in live-action, non-live-action, animated, or mixed forms. There is no age limit for participants.
Films admitted to the competition will be broadcast on the "Skif-Polotsk" TV program, and viewers will also be able to cast their votes for them. The winners and laureates will receive their well-deserved awards at the competition's summing-up event on December 17.
The organizers of the competition are the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus, the regional executive committee, the Polotsk district executive committee, and the national film studio "Belarusfilm."