UNDER THE GREY SKY / POD SZARYM NIEBEM / ПІД СІРИМ НЕБОМ

Leonid Nefedovich
Sep 18
2 min read

Updated: Sep 19

2024 / 81' / feature / Poland

Belarus, 2020. Mass protests follow the elections rigged by Lukashenko. Anti-regime journalist Lena livestreams the brutal crackdown of a peaceful demonstration and is tracked down by a police drone. Nevertheless, she continues the broadcast and is arrested. Lena’s husband, Ilya, prepares an emergency evacuation abroad, but the system has no intention of letting her go.

Lena and Ilya must face unbearable choices in an attempt to survive and remain true to themselves, as the regime is determined to break them both.

The film is inspired by the true story of Belarusian journalists Igor Ilyash and Katsiaryna Andreyeva, who was arrested in November 2020 and is still serving her 8 years sentence.

Screenings schedule:

October 1, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Zhovten Cinema, Hegemon Hall

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DIRECTOR - MARA TAMKOVICH

Biography

Polish-belarusian director and scriptwriter. She studied journalism at Warsaw University, film directing at Warsaw Film School and at Wajda School. For nearly ten years, she worked as a journalist for independent Belarusian TV and Radio broadcasting from abroad to deliver uncensored information to Belarusians.

As a filmmaker, Mara focuses on socially relevant topics, deeply connected to reality. Her short films were shown at numerous festivals in Poland and abroad, receiving awards at 58th Chicago IFF, 47th Gdynia Film Festival, Listapad Minsk IFF, FEST – New Directors | New Films Festival, Linz ISFF and others. Under The Grey Sky is her debut feature. Mara is a member of Polish Filmmakers Association and Belarusian Independent Film Academy.

Selected filmography