V Amateur Film Festival "I Shoot Movies" in Polotsk: Half of the Awards Remained in the Vitebsk Region
Five years ago, Polotsk residents were the first in the country to offer amateur filmmakers a platform for exchanging experiences, thus keenly capturing the trend of the times. With the development of digital technologies, which allow even ordinary schoolchildren to shoot video clips on a smartphone, the number of fans of this type of creativity has been steadily growing.
In a short period, the Polotsk festival has acquired a republican status, expanded its geography, and become one of the new cultural brands of the Vitebsk region. For the high level of organization of the competition and significant contribution to the development and popularization of national cinema, the head of the culture department of the regional executive committee, Petr Podgursky, and the chairman of the Polotsk district executive committee, member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, Nikolai Shevchuk, were awarded a letter of gratitude from the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus.
– People in love with cinema must realize their dream, and the Polotsk project gives them this opportunity. It has activated creative forces, revived initiative, and become a significant event in the life of the region and the country, so it will continue to receive the necessary support from the department and the Ministry of Culture, – noted Petr Podgursky at the summing up of the fifth festival.
The competition promotes intercultural communication, contributes to the development of event tourism and international cooperation. In total, during its existence, it has been attended by about 300 authors from 8 countries, who presented more than 500 works in various genres: from animation to topical social videos, essays, feature films, and documentaries.
Filmmakers from Ukraine, Armenia, Estonia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Germany, and two dozen regions of the Russian Federation, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Vladivostok, competed with Belarusians.
Participant Valentin Kutlimatov (Vyborg, Russia): The demand for the Polotsk festival is obvious: it is the only one for film enthusiasts in the vast CIS region.
– The demand for your festival is obvious: it is the only one for film enthusiasts in the vast CIS region. The organization here is excellent, the atmosphere is warm, and there is even a guardian angel in the person of the founder of Belarusian cinema, a native of Polotsk, Yuri Tarich. In general, by all criteria, as they say, you hit the bullseye, – shared Valentin Kutlimatov from Vyborg, Russia, who came to Polotsk to receive a diploma in the "Feature Film" nomination.
Our compatriots always distinguish themselves: up to half of the competition awards remain in the Vitebsk region annually.
The implementation of the project has generated a real boom in amateur cinema in our region. For example, competitions are already being held in Polotsk among kindergartens, schools, secondary vocational and vocational-technical institutions.
Rural Soviets are beginning to submit video reports on their activities. Interesting films have been created by the district culture center, the central library system, the folk historical costume theater "Polotsky Zvyaz", the honored amateur collective "Pilgrim", and the association of parents raising children with disabilities "Strumok".
– We are pleased that the people of Polotsk are at the forefront of this promising endeavor, continuing the traditions of Yuri Tarich, who was also a pioneer in many initiatives in theater and cinema. And it is especially pleasant to see the enthusiasm with which young people are drawn into the creative process, – noted the Deputy Chairman of the Polotsk District Executive Committee, Petr Petkevich.
The Polotsk Forestry College harvested a record crop of awards
The skill of the competition participants, according to Artur Ilyinykh, Associate Professor at the Department of Film and Television Directing of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts, is steadily growing from year to year. The best works are done at a very high level, characterized by a new outlook on the world and fresh approaches to presenting material. And those who wish to improve in their favorite pursuit can well turn their hobby into a profession. Moreover, the diplomas of the competition prize-winners grant the right to bonus admission to the Academy of Arts.
This year, representatives of the Polotsk Forestry College, who collected a record harvest of awards at the competition, can also take advantage of this benefit.
Three years ago, the college launched its own student internet television "Perviy Lesnoy" (First Forest), the only one among the secondary vocational education institutions of the Vitebsk region.
Under the guidance of additional education teachers Irina Gorbatenko and Nikolay Marchenko, in their free time from studies, the students create interesting video clips, informational and thematic programs. They aim to constantly reach new heights, so they have already begun preparations for the 6th Republican Competition "I Shoot a Movie," the application period for which will open in early spring.
