Journalists

*The project was presented at the Baltic Sea Forum for Documentaries

International premiere.

Followed by a meeting with director Aleh Dashkevich and producer Volha Nikalaichyk

Belarus, 2008, 52’

In Belarus, mass media that ventures to criticize President Lukashenko is shut down, journalists are arrested, convicted, or even worse – they simply disappear. Freedom of speech that was still recently every journalist’s weapon has now become the reason for endangering career, family and even life. The film tells the story of the daily lives of Belarusian journalists and the dilemmas they face between conscience and temptation, fear and self-respect. Many journalists have been forced to abandon their profession while others have emigrated, but there is still a large number, who, despite the obstacles created by the authoritarian regime, continue to fill their professional mission – as the “guard dogs” of democracy.

According to the 2008 “Freedom House” annual review surveying 193 countries to determine political and civil rights (free, partially free and not free), Belarus, along with 42 other countries, was placed in the most repressed group of nations. (http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/fiw08launch/mof2008.pdf).

Directed by Aleh Dashkevich

Produced by ADKpradukcyja