Director Aliaksei Paluyan, whose documentary “Courage” became one of the most talked-about events at the 2021 Berlinale, is returning to the Berlin International Film Festival in 2026 as part of the professional program Berlinale Talents. This year, he will present his new fiction project INCUBATOR within the prestigious Berlinale Script Station laboratory.
What Is Script Station?
It is an elite platform for professionals, where only a small number of promising projects from around the world are selected each year. Participation allows a director to refine the dramaturgy of a future film under the guidance of leading international experts. This is a critically important stage for securing European funding and finding partners.
What Is the Film About?
The plot of INCUBATOR is an intense drama at the intersection of two tragedies. The main character, 35-year-old Belarusian woman Maria, becomes a surrogate mother in Ukraine in order to raise money to secure the release of her husband Viktar, who has been sentenced in Belarus to nine years in prison on politically motivated charges. However, her plans collapse with the outbreak of the full-scale war: together with the newborn child, who was meant for a German couple, Maria finds herself in a war zone.
The project is being developed as a German-French co-production. Aliaksei Paluyan is credited as both screenwriter and director. Production of the film is scheduled for 2028.
The project’s strong potential is underscored by the composition of its international producing team. Alongside Paluyan’s long-time partners Ushi Feldges and Ansgar Frerich of Basis Berlin, who worked on his previous films, the team has been joined by the experienced French duo Milena Poila and Gilles Sacuto of TS Productions. The involvement of such partners not only provides the project with strong professional support but also opens the way for large-scale international co-production.
Belarusian Presence at Berlinale 2026
In addition to Paluyan’s personal success, the festival will also see active participation by the Belarusian Independent Film Academy (BIFA).
This year, the Academy plans to run a Belarusian stand at the European Film Market (EFM), the main platform for communication between filmmakers and European funds and partners.
BIFA will also host a presentation of feature-length film projects by Belarusian filmmakers at the EFM. This will be the fourth consecutive year in which Belarusian cinematographers seek partners and financing at one of the world’s largest film marketplaces. This year, between five and seven projects are expected to take part in the pitching sessions.
The Berlin International Film Festival will take place in 2026 from February 12 to 24.
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