Minsk International Film Festival "Listapad"
For almost 30 years, every November in Minsk has been defined by cinema. From arthouse novelties to classics of intellectual cinema. From the best of the world's box office to retrospective screenings of Belarusian authors. The Minsk International Film Festival "Listapad" was conceived as an annual exam for the cinema of the entire post-Soviet space. But over nearly three decades, it has grown significantly, evolving from a local event into a global celebration for cinephiles from all over the world[2, 5].
A Time for Good Cinema
In the early 1990s, the need for its own forum was felt by everyone related to the world of cinema. The festival was primarily necessary for the public, for whom post-Soviet cinema was much more than just movies. It was needed by filmmakers, connected not only by creative but also by long-standing friendly ties. It was needed by young actors – in those difficult years, many changed their profession, and even the very talented found themselves out of demand. For cinemas and "Belarusfilm", the festival became a breath of fresh air and, in many ways, a salvation[7].
In 1994, when the Minsk film forum was just beginning, festival films hardly made it to general release. This meant that viewers had only one week of exclusive cinematic opportunities to see new feature and documentary films, collected (largely thanks to friendly cinematographic connections) from all over the post-Soviet space[10].
The first winner of the Minsk festival was Nikita Mikhalkov. His experimental documentary film "Anna: From 6 to 18" received the main prize. The master director filmed his daughter, Anna Mikhalkova, who answered the same questions from her father over 12 years. The director combined the girl's answers with chronicles of those years. Through the prism of little Anna's answers, many events unfold: the deaths of General Secretaries Brezhnev, Andropov, and Chernenko, perestroika, the collapse of the Soviet Union…[5]
The audience eagerly awaited each subsequent "Listapad", and the festival did not disappoint: it expanded its program, became more generous with statuettes and diplomas, and invited renowned filmmakers.
For the Chairman of "Listapad", Rostislav Yankovsky, this autumn film screening was largely a family holiday. His brother Oleg (sometimes with his son Philipp) and Rostislav’s elder son Igor came from Moscow… But no matter how warm and heartfelt the first forums were, Yankovsky already understood that the festival should primarily reflect current processes in the cinema and not be just a corporate holiday. So, having finally defined and clarified the concept of the forum, the organizing committee sent letters with requests for support to the Minsk City Executive Committee and the Presidential Administration. It was impossible to make a real, big film festival without the help of the State. And President Alexander Lukashenko supported the forum, but with one condition: to focus not only on preserving the traditions and cinematic heritage our country was famous for, but also on developing international cultural ties. With this guidance, "Listapad" gradually gained prestige: from then on, every November, Minsk began to live with the best works of world cinema[2].
All these years, the festival has been held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. A special prize is presented on his behalf to filmmakers of the highest caliber.
Cinema with a Festival Focus
Many of the films presented at the forum arrive in Minsk already holding prizes and awards from the world's largest festivals. "Listapad" set a course for international convergence many years ago: to show audiences the best of what has been filmed in recent seasons. The forum's organizers closely ensure that the main festival favorites from other film forums are included in the competitive and non-competitive screening programs[9].
But unlike "Mostra" or the "Berlinale", the Minsk festival is for the audience, not for distributors or the establishment. Tickets for the main festival days are always on sale. And any regular moviegoer can get an autograph, or even exchange a few words with famous guests. Over the years, stars of a truly global scale have come to the festival in Minsk, including Fanny Ardant, Ornella Muti, Krzysztof Zanussi, Vladimir Menshov, Armand Assante, and Emir Kusturica[7].
All the Gold of "Listapad"
Heartfelt, hospitable, with a cozy atmosphere that tolerates no pretense or hypocrisy – "Listapad" has long become the heart of the Slavic film world. It is the last major festival in the calendar year, so it has a special mission: to close the cinematic season and showcase the best that has been filmed over the past year. But "Listapad" is not only a competition of films that have found success with audiences at home and won prestigious festival prizes abroad. Above all, it is a celebration of cinema. The competitive program features only winners and participants of various international festivals. The jury consists of renowned masters and talented newcomers. "Listapad" is one of those brands by which Belarus is recognized worldwide. With a respectable gloss and a special European subtlety. With an atmosphere of friendship and true Belarusian hospitality. It was, is, and remains one of the most representative film forums in the post-Soviet space – and a favorite for thousands of viewers.
