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March 12, 2025 – Belarus –
A powerful new feature film telling the story of imprisoned Belarusian journalist Katsyaryna Andreeva is set to premiere in Polish cinemas, drawing international attention to her case and the wider suppression of press freedom in Belarus. The film, titled “I Am Katya”, dramatizes the life and imprisonment of Andreeva, a reporter for Belsat TV, who was arrested in 2020 while covering protests in Minsk and has since become a symbol of resistance against the Lukashenko regime’s crackdown on independent media.
Andreeva, whose real name is Katsyaryna Bakhvalava, was sentenced to two years in prison in 2021 for “organizing actions that grossly violate public order.” Later, she received an additional eight-year sentence on state secrets charges. Her work documenting government violence during the anti-Lukashenko protests made her a target for Belarusian authorities, and international human rights groups have since recognized her as a political prisoner.
The upcoming film, directed by Polish filmmaker Maria Dębska, portrays Andreeva’s life before her arrest, her commitment to truth-telling journalism, and the emotional toll of imprisonment. The project was developed in close collaboration with human rights organizations, press freedom advocates, and former colleagues from Belsat, a Poland-based Belarusian-language television network that has faced significant repression from the Minsk government.
The film is expected to resonate with both Polish and international audiences, serving as a poignant reminder of the personal sacrifices journalists make in the fight for truth and transparency. By humanizing Andreeva’s story and contextualizing it within Belarus’s broader political climate, the filmmakers aim to galvanize support for her release and raise awareness about ongoing media persecution in the country.
Belsat, which continues to operate in exile, expressed hope that the film will help pressure European institutions to act more decisively on behalf of imprisoned Belarusian journalists. Meanwhile, international human rights bodies continue to call for Andreeva’s unconditional release, underscoring her unjust treatment as part of the Belarusian regime’s broader war on dissent.
Reference –
Movie about Belarusian political prisoner journalist is being released in Polish cinema
