Belarusian Director Yauhen Lytkin’s Short Film “The Final Test” Wins Special Jury Prize at Jordan Film Festival

Reform.news Editorial Team · 25 September 2026, 18:32

https://reform.news/en/belarusian-director-yauhen-lytkin-s-short-film-the-final-test-wins-special-jury-prize-at-jordan-film-festival/

“The Final Test,” a drama by independent Belarusian director Yauhen Lytkin, has received the Special Jury Prize in the international competition at the 11th Jordan International Film Festival, held in Amman.

The awards were announced on the evening of September 24, 2026, during the festival’s closing ceremony at the main hall of the Royal Cultural Center in Jordan’s capital.

Strong Competition and International Recognition

According to Jordan’s Petra News Agency, the festival received 2,099 submissions from around the world this year. Following a rigorous selection process, only eight films were included in the official international competition, including the Belarusian short film, which was made by Belarusian filmmakers in exile last year.

Director Yauhen Lytkin announced the team’s success on his Facebook page:

“This is a great honour for our team and important recognition of the work of the director, actors and entire crew. Thank you to the jury and festival organisers for their high assessment of the film!”

“The Final Test” is a psychological drama with elements of a parable.

The story takes place in a classroom where a teacher announces the start of a test with no correct answers. Despite the absence of a single right solution, however, the teacher imposes an unequivocal requirement: every participant must achieve a perfect score. The film explores themes of systemic pressure, moral choice, the absurdity of rigid constraints and an individual’s psychological struggle against impossible demands.

A particular point of interest for Belarusian viewers is the participation of actors from the Kupala Theatre: Aleh Harbuz and Sviatlana Zeliankouskaya play the leading roles. Belarusian bagpipe player and musician Aliaksei Burnasenka also appears in the film.

The film’s other contributors include producer Dzianis Ivanou, cinematographer Valik and editor Mikhail Vasilevich. The screenplay was written by director Yauhen Lytkin, who is also known for the BFN:Live project.

What Is the Jordan International Film Festival?

The Jordan International Film Festival (JIFF) is Jordan’s main international film platform, established by the country’s Ministry of Culture. Held in Amman, the festival aims to develop Arab and international cinema, support independent directors and promote cultural exchange between countries. Its jury includes internationally recognised film critics, directors and actors.

Yauhen Lytkin is a Belarusian director, producer and music video director. He is known for his work in fiction and documentary filmmaking, as well as for producing music videos for Belarusian and international artists. “The Final Test” continues a series of his independent projects, bringing Belarusian independent cinema to international audiences.