The 31st Minsk International Film Festival "Listapad" in Belarus, running from 31 October to 7 November, launched under the slogan History Shifting Perspectives.
During the opening, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko congratulated the organizing committee and attendees, wishing the participants success and an enjoyable viewing experience.
He emphasized that the festival fosters dialogue between countries, unites filmmakers, and encourages new ideas that contribute to the development of art.
Belarusian Culture Minister Ruslan Chernitsky added that the festival is a major cultural event eagerly anticipated each year, welcoming the international guests participating in the festival.
Alexander Yefremov, Belarusian director, screenwriter, and festival president, stated that this year's festival received over 3,600 applications from 120 countries, with 157 films from 41 countries being selected.
Listapad will feature works from Russia, China, India, Iran, and Pakistan, as well as from European countries. This year marks the first-time participation of representatives from Vietnam and the Philippines.
The film festival will feature eight competition categories, each with its own jury. These include competitions for feature films, non-fiction films, animation films, films for children and youth audience (Listapadzik), Cinema of the Young, a national film schools competition, and a national competition. This year, a short film competition has been added following proposals from the Belarusian Union of Cinematographers and the wider film community.
The jury will begin viewing the films until November 6, with the results to be announced on November 7, the festival's closing day.
Sherif Gad, Director of Cultural Activities at the Russian Cultural Center in Cairo and Vice President of the Film Society, expressed his happiness on being chosen as head of the National Film Schools Committee ("Student Cinema").
He will be joined on the jury panel by Cuban film director Pablo Masip and film critic and Head of the Department of Art Criticism at the Faculty of Mass Communication at Belarusian State University, Lyudmila Sayenkova.
Gad added that he was particularly pleased to have renowned Russian director Karen Shakhnazarov, head of the Russian film corporation Mosfilm, as head of the feature film jury, along with Italian actor Fabio Massa.
He said, "Although the festival is in its 31st edition, there has been absolutely no collaboration with Egyptian cinema. I am the first Egyptian to participate in this festival, although there have been some Arab attempts recently, starting in 2015 with a joint Qatari-Palestinian-American-British production. In 2016, Lebanon and Qatar also participated in a joint film, 'In the Company of Palestine,' and Lebanon participated in 2018. Saudi Arabia participated in 2024. I will strive to open a channel of communication with this important festival, hoping that Egyptian cinema will participate prominently and distinctively in the next edition, whether in feature films, short films, documentaries, or animation."
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