The Edge of Democracy: How to Remain a Filmmaker in the World Facing Challenges Like War, Displacement, (De)Colonization, Censorship

This panel is organized in collaboration with the Northern Lights Nordic Baltic Film Festival, a unique independent Belarusian film festival in exile. The festival relocated outside its home country, Belarus, in 2020 following fraudulent elections, repression, and persecution. Northern Lights has collaborated with Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival since 2022.

THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY addresses the urgent question of how filmmakers can continue their craft in a world marked by war, displacement, (de)colonization, and censorship. Featuring directors from conflict zones and politically charged environments, the discussion will explore the personal and professional challenges they face in telling stories that challenge authority and reflect their lived realities. The panellists will share how they navigate exile, resist censorship, and use cinema as a form of activism and cultural preservation. With perspectives spanning across different regions and conflicts, the conversation will highlight the role of film in addressing historical and political wounds, and the responsibility of filmmakers to keep creating despite immense obstacles. Through their experiences, this session will illuminate how cinema can remain a voice for the silenced, and a powerful tool for change in an increasingly hostile world.