Chongqing – The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival has become a vibrant stage for cultural diplomacy, with Belarusian delegates expressing profound admiration for host city Chongqing while outlining ambitious plans for Chinese-Belarusian cinematic cooperation. Uladzimir Karacheuski, Film Producer, unanimously celebrated Chongqing's unique blend of revolutionary heritage and neon-lit modernity, describing it as a city "where visitors become reluctant to leave," particularly captivated by its fiery culinary traditions including the iconic hotpot.
Belarusian Delegation Debuts at SCO Film Festival in Chongqing. (Photo/DENG Nan)
Belarus unveiled five carefully curated films at the festival, with two entries competing for awards and three featured in special showcase screenings. Dzmitry Siamionau, Director General of Belarusfilm Studio, emphasized the event's significance as a unique platform for cross-border creative dialogue. "This festival opens essential pathways for discussing cinematic development and future co-productions," he noted, extending a formal invitation for Chinese filmmakers to attend Minsk International Film Festival Listapad this autumn.
Dzmitry Siamionau, Director General of Belarusfilm Studio, is sharing his opinion at SCO Film Festival in Chongqing. (Photo/DENG Nan)
Advisor to the Cinematography Department of the Ministry of Culture of Belarus, Radmila Zaitsava, highlighted the flourishing film exchange between Minsk and Beijing. She pointed to established reciprocal participation in major festivals including Shanghai International Film Festival and Minsk International Film Festival Listapad, alongside impactful student exchange programs that enable aspiring filmmakers to study in each other’s countries. Radmila emphasized that cinema has become a vital diplomatic bridge, strengthening people-to-people connections while laying foundations for technical collaboration and talent development.
Radmila Zaitsava, Advisor to the Cinematography Department of the Ministry of Culture of Belarus, is sharing his opinion at SCO Film Festival in Chongqing. (Photo/DENG Nan)
Delegates underscored the SCO festival's core mission as a powerful connector across linguistic and cultural boundaries. Uladzimir reflected on cinema's evolving role: "Where Belarusian audiences once discovered Chinese film primarily through icons like Jackie Chan, platforms like SCO now reveal China's extraordinary cinematic diversity – from comedies to thrillers – each carrying profound cultural resonance." They noted with appreciation that Chinese films are increasingly reaching Belarusian audiences through festivals like Minsk International Film Festival Listapad.
Uladzimir Karacheuski, Film Producer, is sharing his opinion at SCO Film Festival in Chongqing. (Photo/DENG Nan)
The delegation expressed keen interest in accessing China's advanced film technologies to modernize Belarus's cinematic output, while particularly commending the festival’s spirit of equality. "Within this framework, no nations are labeled 'big' or 'small' – all cultures command equal respect," observed one delegate, acknowledging China's commitment to cultural diversity within the SCO community.
Looking ahead, Belarus envisions substantive collaborations including bilateral film distribution through national broadcasters and streaming platforms, enabling Chinese productions like Chongqing-filmed Panda Project to reach Belarusian households. Co-production initiatives and sustained participation in each other's flagship festivals form key pillars of this cinematic partnership. As Scherbakov concluded: "Beyond political and economic ties, cultural exchange remains the most vibrant thread weaving our nations together."
(XIAO Jiapeng, as an intern, also contributed to the report.)