Belarusian director who took part in Berlinale may be deported from Poland

Belarusian filmmaker Yury Syamashka may be forced to leave Poland. The director shared the news on his Facebook page. He was denied permanent residency under the Pole’s Card program. The reason: he submitted an invalid employment contract.

“Apparently, participating in Berlinale with a film isn’t a valid reason not to have a job. The fact that I used to work and pay taxes doesn’t prove I want to stay in Poland. A few days ago, I finally found a job, but then this letter arrived. I have 30 days to leave Poland. I barely have any money for a visa trip or legal help. Going back to Belarus is the simplest but also a very risky option,” Yury writes, adding that he is in need of assistance.

The director says he wants to consult a lawyer — there’s a chance the decision could still be appealed. He also needs financial support (donations can be sent to his Buymeacoffee account) — either to travel to Georgia to apply for a Schengen visa or to pay for legal assistance. Syamashka is also open to advice on how to obtain a visa under the Pole’s Card in Georgia, and help with temporary accommodation there.

Yury Syamashka, a director from Minsk, is best known for his independent projects: Garbage Head, When I Was a General, Blood and Karaoke, among others. His works have received recognition at Belarusian film festivals, and the Belarusian Film Critics Award “Chyrvony Verasень” honored his film Garbage Head.

His most recent work, The Swan Song of Fyodar Ozerau, was created in 2023 within the Belarusian Filmmakers Network’s micro-budget incubator and was supported at the Work-in-Progress competition in Cottbus.

The film was screened in the non-competitive program of this year’s Berlinale and received a diploma from the readers’ jury of Tagesspiegel newspaper.