Andrei Kureichyk: Belarusfilm Stole My Project

The script writer publicly submitted the project “Skaryna” to the Ministry of Culture back in 2011.

“My project was stolen. By whom? Belarusfilm. Sirs Porshneu and Nikifarau. I am telling the names straightaway.The CEO and art director of the studio. The project was named “Skaryna”. It was submitted in the final version to the Ministry of Culture of Belarus to the then Minister of Culture Pavel Latushka in 2011. Publicly,” – famous script writer and director Andrei Kureichyk posted on Facebook.

According to the script writer, the Minister immediately listed “Skaryna” among the possible next national projects. In spring, the project was again presented in the Ministry of Culture and it passed the presentation. Art director of Belarusfilm Viachaslau Nikifarau and CEO Ihar Porshneu told Kureichyk publicly at the presentation that this was a project for Belarusfilm.

“Many people heard this. It was widely reported by all the media. I was offered help in implementation of the project at the highest state level,” — Andrei Kureichyk underlines.

"Some time ago a man called me, who introduced himself as an editor and asked for a script at the request of Mr. Nikifarau," — the script writer continues. — “I sent the script to the e-mail of Belarusfilm. This was part of the plan for the theft. No, not the script. The future film about Skaryna. The future of the whole project. They stole not only from me, but from all Belarusians. I sent them the script, and today I saw this plate. I think they will not dare to steal a script from letter to letter. "

Kureichyk believes that the officials of Belarusfilm will simply rewrite and spoil the script beyond recognition, "as it usually happens in a studio with good scripts so that no one could sue them."

"However, if something was stolen and broken, it does not make stealing any better. Ihar Porshneu, you are a thief for me. Viachaslau Nikifarau, you are a thief for me as well. This could have been a serious and important project for Belarus. Now begins another profanation of the Belarusian cinema, the mockery of the national culture and history and the subsequent destruction of the national film studio. Another "Code of Cain." It's a shame. Development cannot be built on meanness,” — the script writer sums up.