DOK Leipzig’s Industry program was opened on October 9 with the participation of Belarusian Independent Film Academy representatives. Film Academy co-founders took part in the panel titled 'Displaced by Dictatorship and War: Belarusian Independent Filmmakers in Europe'. The discussion aimed to draw renewed attention to exiled Belarusian documentary filmmakers amid the country's escalating political climate and curbs on artistic freedom.

The discussion took place with the participation of the Belarusian Independent Film Academy (BIFA) and shed light on the current state of Belarusian independent documentary cinema. It addressed challenges faced by exiled Belarusian documentary filmmakers and those still living and working in the country, and discussed how to support fellow Belarusian colleagues through funding, festivals, and partnerships with European film institutes.

Among the panelists were film producer, director, and founder of the Nordic-Baltic film festival, Northern Lights, Volia Chajkouskaya; film director Andrei Kutsila (When Flowers Are Not Silent); film critic, cultural observer, and journalist Irena Kaciałovič; festival coordinator Yuliya Samailouskikh; cinematographer Siarhei Kavaliou, and German director Juliane Tutein. Louis Beaudemont (Les Steppes Productions) joined BIFA members as a moderator to address how to support Belarusian documentary filmmakers in exile. During the panel, BIFA was also introduced, covering its founding history, goals, challenges, the current issues the academy is working on, and how the international film community can support the initiative.