With the support of the grant, the Belarusian programme of the Northern Lights Film Festival was implemented.
For more than 11 years, the Northern Lights Film Festival has been showcasing auteur and independent cinema. Following the events of 2020, the festival was forced to rethink its operations and continue its work in exile. One of its key directions became the Belarusian programme, both as a response to the lack of platforms for independent Belarusian cinema and as a way to maintain a connection with audiences inside the country.
Thanks to the support of ArtPower Belarus, in autumn 2025 the festival was not only able to deliver a new edition of its Belarusian programme, but also to significantly strengthen its infrastructure. This included launching an open call and selection process for films, upgrading the online platform with a focus on security and accessibility, and organising offline screenings in Vilnius, Warsaw, and Tallinn.
The project contributes to the development and visibility of independent Belarusian cinema, creates space for dialogue between filmmakers and audiences, and helps sustain cultural connections among Belarusians both inside the country and abroad.
