New East Cinema: Courage (15*)

The Belarus Free Theatre was established in 2005 with the sole mission to expose Lukashenko’s oppression through art. Although officially banned by the state and with a theatre director exiled in London, the artists continue to speak truth to power. In August 2020, after Lukashenko secured his sixth term as president in the disputed election, a disillusioned nation took to the streets.

Aliaksei Paluyan’s extraordinary documentary Courage follows the Belarus Free Theatre as they once again demand a fairer future. A film as politically urgent as it is emotionally touching, Courage makes for a convincing case on the power of art in the midst of a crisis.

After the film, we're joined on stage by Nicolai Khalezin and Natalia Kaliada of the Belarus Free Theatre, and virtually by director Aliaksei Paluyan.