MINSK, 10 June (BelTA) — Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko spoke about possible financial support for Belarusfilm during his visit to the national film studio on 10 June, BelTA has learned.
Upon his arrival at the film studio, Aleksandr Lukashenko asked Deputy Prime Minister Natalya Petkevich: “Is everything so bad here?”
“We need to help,” she replied.
“What does it mean ‘to help’?” the president asked. “Again?”
Natalya Petkevich stressed that new people had come to the management in the industry and they had an intention to change the situation for the better. There are issues, however, that they cannot solve themselves. For example, there is a need to demolish some buildings and reduce costs.
“If we take these buildings down, things will improve?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked.
Head of the Belarus President Administration Dmitry Kruto joined the conversation by noting that it would help reduce costs. “They have them on the balance sheet,” he said.
“Well, let's take them off the balance sheet,” the president suggested.
Dmitry Krutoi replied: “There is such a concept too - to split it into two parts.”
The head of state was briefed on the structure of the film studio, the staff size, infrastructure. Thus, in Minsk, Belarusfilm has a production building with filming pavilions, a motor pool, several non-operational buildings, scheduled for demolition. There is a film set in Smolevichi. The staff numbers in the film studio are 320 specialists, but there are still some vacancies which need to be filled. For example, two of the three deputy director positions are vacant. In this regard, the president noted that there was probably no need for such a large number of deputy directors, since the main thing is to have those who are directly involved in film production.
Belarusfilm comprises three main studios for feature films, documentaries, animated films, and the Film Actor Theater Studio. The filming pavilions located in Minsk are mainly used for construction of sets, film and TV project making. There is also an exposition telling the story of the national filmmaking. There are several films in production now. In September is scheduled to premiere on - the film Homeroom Theater will premiere in September to mark Teacher's Day. Another film, Turning Point, will come out before the end of the year. Work has begun on the films Father Minay. Partisan Legend (premiere is scheduled for 2026), One for Two and New Year's Express.
Speaking about filmmaking, Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized: “It should be relevant. It needs certain dynamics. This is my opinion.”
The president did not rule out financial support, but added that the industry should be efficient and produce high-quality popular movies. Aleksandr Lukashenko demanded to “ensure strict control” over the process of filmmaking and funds allocation in the industry. “There should be a reasonable approach to the allocation of funds. Give one ruble, expect two in return,” the Belarusian leader voiced the general idea of supporting the national film industry.
“Figuratively speaking, we are going to fence everything off here with ‘barbed wire’. There are 320 specialists [at the film studio].You are welcome to make films, sell them and live on what you earn. Let's start with this step,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Those who give results, suggest promising ideas should be supported. “We waste lots of money in fact. We need to pay people who work,” the head of state said.
The president was briefed on the implementation of television projects at the Belarusfilm sites. The Belarusian TV and Radio Company is making a series of popular TV shows here. “No money will be spared, if there is a result,” he said.
While at the film studio, the head of state talked to Kirill Khaletsky, director of the Homeroom Teacher film which will be released in September. “Good Lord, we have filmmakers, don’t we? You are akin to a treasure of the soil for us. Or perhaps, you have come from abroad,” Aleksandr Lukashenko addressed him.
“I'm a Belarusian. Academy of Arts,” Kirill Khaletsky replied.
“Thank Heaven! It turns out we have [filmmakers in Belarus],” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.
Kirill Khaletsky said that the Homeroom Teacher film is about a young teacher who goes to work in an agro-town as part of her post-university job placement and becomes a homeroom teacher of 11th graders. “The film is suitable for children aged 6 and over. This means that first-graders can go watch it together with their parents or classmates. The film is in the editing stage. It will be a good, entertaining film. The Education Ministry is supervising the project and helping us. It will premiere in all cinemas of the country on 18 September,” the filmmaker said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said he was familiar with the main idea of the film and gave just one advice. According to the president, life in the agro-town should be properly depicted, because it is different from, for example, Minsk realities. “There should be no contrast here. Minsk and an agro-town are different things,” the president said.
Upon his arrival at the film studio, Aleksandr Lukashenko asked Deputy Prime Minister Natalya Petkevich: “Is everything so bad here?”
“We need to help,” she replied.
“What does it mean ‘to help’?” the president asked. “Again?”
Natalya Petkevich stressed that new people had come to the management in the industry and they had an intention to change the situation for the better. There are issues, however, that they cannot solve themselves. For example, there is a need to demolish some buildings and reduce costs.
“If we take these buildings down, things will improve?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked.
Head of the Belarus President Administration Dmitry Kruto joined the conversation by noting that it would help reduce costs. “They have them on the balance sheet,” he said.
“Well, let's take them off the balance sheet,” the president suggested.
Dmitry Krutoi replied: “There is such a concept too - to split it into two parts.”
“I just came to the opposite conclusion. I think they should stay. Let
them produce, sell and live on what they earn. How long can we support
them? They are actually fully dependent on the state’s support,
proceeding from the information the committee [State Control Committee]
and you [Belarus President Administration] have prepared for me. Why
should they work at all? They will come asking for money, bring a
document, put it on the president's desk to sign. What should we give
them money for?” the president said. “The management here have changed
three times over the past few years. And we keep helping them,” the
president said.
The head of state was briefed on the structure of the film studio, the staff size, infrastructure. Thus, in Minsk, Belarusfilm has a production building with filming pavilions, a motor pool, several non-operational buildings, scheduled for demolition. There is a film set in Smolevichi. The staff numbers in the film studio are 320 specialists, but there are still some vacancies which need to be filled. For example, two of the three deputy director positions are vacant. In this regard, the president noted that there was probably no need for such a large number of deputy directors, since the main thing is to have those who are directly involved in film production.
Belarusfilm comprises three main studios for feature films, documentaries, animated films, and the Film Actor Theater Studio. The filming pavilions located in Minsk are mainly used for construction of sets, film and TV project making. There is also an exposition telling the story of the national filmmaking. There are several films in production now. In September is scheduled to premiere on - the film Homeroom Theater will premiere in September to mark Teacher's Day. Another film, Turning Point, will come out before the end of the year. Work has begun on the films Father Minay. Partisan Legend (premiere is scheduled for 2026), One for Two and New Year's Express.
Speaking about filmmaking, Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized: “It should be relevant. It needs certain dynamics. This is my opinion.”
The president did not rule out financial support, but added that the industry should be efficient and produce high-quality popular movies. Aleksandr Lukashenko demanded to “ensure strict control” over the process of filmmaking and funds allocation in the industry. “There should be a reasonable approach to the allocation of funds. Give one ruble, expect two in return,” the Belarusian leader voiced the general idea of supporting the national film industry.
“Figuratively speaking, we are going to fence everything off here with ‘barbed wire’. There are 320 specialists [at the film studio].You are welcome to make films, sell them and live on what you earn. Let's start with this step,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Those who give results, suggest promising ideas should be supported. “We waste lots of money in fact. We need to pay people who work,” the head of state said.
The president was briefed on the implementation of television projects at the Belarusfilm sites. The Belarusian TV and Radio Company is making a series of popular TV shows here. “No money will be spared, if there is a result,” he said.
While at the film studio, the head of state talked to Kirill Khaletsky, director of the Homeroom Teacher film which will be released in September. “Good Lord, we have filmmakers, don’t we? You are akin to a treasure of the soil for us. Or perhaps, you have come from abroad,” Aleksandr Lukashenko addressed him.
“I'm a Belarusian. Academy of Arts,” Kirill Khaletsky replied.
“Thank Heaven! It turns out we have [filmmakers in Belarus],” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.
Kirill Khaletsky said that the Homeroom Teacher film is about a young teacher who goes to work in an agro-town as part of her post-university job placement and becomes a homeroom teacher of 11th graders. “The film is suitable for children aged 6 and over. This means that first-graders can go watch it together with their parents or classmates. The film is in the editing stage. It will be a good, entertaining film. The Education Ministry is supervising the project and helping us. It will premiere in all cinemas of the country on 18 September,” the filmmaker said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said he was familiar with the main idea of the film and gave just one advice. According to the president, life in the agro-town should be properly depicted, because it is different from, for example, Minsk realities. “There should be no contrast here. Minsk and an agro-town are different things,” the president said.
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