‘Soyka’: Directed by Belarusian filmmaker Anastasiya Sergienya
Anastasiya Sergienya is an indie filmmaker whose latest project Soyka draws directly from her own experiences as an immigrant navigating life in New York. The short marks her writing and directorial debut. Born in Minsk, Belarus, she first picked up photography ten years ago before relocating to London in 2012 to attend the National Film and Television School. She later moved to New York City, where she worked as a production assistant, wardrobe assistant, and assistant director on various sets.
Now, the filmmaker is proudly presenting her own work, Soyka, to the world. We had the opportunity to ask Anastasiya Sergienya a few questions about the film, her work overall, and filmmaking in general – here’s what she had to say.
Can you tell us a little bit about Soyka?
Soyka is a short indie film based on a true story. It follows a day in the life of a young woman from Belarus living in New York. The viewer trails her on the commute to work and back home again, capturing her vision of a better life. Though centered on one individual, the film reflects the experiences of millions of immigrants facing similar struggles. It explores self-realization, loneliness, hope, and the daily push toward happiness.
The project began in January 2019 under the working title Dream & Smile. In January 2020, the film raised $5,505.28 from 166 backers across the United States, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, The United Kingdom, Portugal, France, The Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, and New Zealand through Indiegogo. Total production budget reached $17,000 through individual contributions, events, and grants, with an additional $5,000 allocated to pre-production covering script development, grant writing, promotions, and producer work. Soyka is a fiscally sponsored project of the New-York Foundation for the Arts.
What inspired you to make Soyka?
My own experience as an immigrant in the U.S. inspired me to make Soyka. Working on sh*ty jobs you only can dream about a better life and the American dream.
Why was Soyka an important film for you to make?
It is important to me because I’ve had a similar experience, so I can feel the protagonist and understand what she has, and other girls/women like her have been going through.
Is there anything you’d like viewers to know about Soyka before watching it?
Only after watching. If I tell it now, I will tell a story.
How was working on Soyka? What did you learn from the experience?
Pre-production was long—years and a half. Raising money on a short film is a hard job. Production was very challenging also because of COVID. We were determined to shoot Soyka in August 2020, despite the challenges we faced. These challenges made us go over-budget. I am so proud of the cast and crew who worked so hard to make this film happen! I am also proud to say that Soyka was a green set. We recycled and used reusable bottles. I definitely learn a lot! One of the goals of this movie was to learn production routine to make future movie making process smoother. I definitely learn a lot of things about producing, contracts, post-production. Next time I definitely save a lot of money on pre-production. The film later screened at multiple festivals, including the Mystic Film Festival in 2021.
Recent Films and Career Progression
Since completing Soyka, Sergienya has directed two additional short films. You&I premiered in 2023, and Laundromat followed with a closed premiere in June 2026. Her directing credits on IMDb now list these shorts alongside her debut, showing steady movement from personal immigrant stories toward broader narrative experiments while maintaining the intimate scale that defined her first project.
Professional Leadership and Recognition
In 2026, Sergienya joined the board of Women in Film & Video New England. The appointment places her among peers shaping regional production resources and advocacy at a moment when independent filmmakers continue to navigate shifting funding landscapes and festival circuits. Her involvement signals a transition from emerging artist to someone actively shaping support structures for others.
Current Location and Ongoing Work
Sergienya is now based in the Providence, Rhode Island area. She continues working as both a director and film photographer, carrying forward the analog practice that preceded her move into narrative filmmaking. The shift from New York production hubs to a smaller regional base reflects a common pattern among filmmakers who balance festival travel with sustainable living and ongoing creative output.
Grant Support and Production Resources
Beyond the initial crowdfunding campaign, Soyka received support through the Artist Relief Grant, The Actors Fund, and the City Artist Corps Grant. These awards supplemented the $17,000 production budget and helped cover costs that emerged during the extended timeline. The combination of grassroots fundraising and institutional grants illustrates how many short films reach completion through layered financial strategies rather than single-source financing.
Tell us about your career before you found filmmaking.
I am a professional photographer for 13 years. I am also a television and film freelancer since 2017. I love that! Even being just a small production assistant on a set I was enjoying every moment of my work and was trying to learn as much as I can! Right now I am focusing on an assistant director position—this is my bread. But directing is truly my passion. In 2012 I moved to London to learn English in Wimbledon Language Academy. And in 2013 I successfully passed my exams to Westminster Academy where I studied Business Management. I also finished online courses “Explore Filmmaking: From Script to Screen” at National Film and Television School in London and made one more step to my dream, a move to NYC in 2016. In NY I finished Summer Filmmaking courses at TISCH, NYU and started working in the film industry. In the same time I created Belarusian Movie nights Club – Kinovino, where I show Belarusian movies or international movies with Belarusian translation.
Soyka is both your directorial and writing debut, can you tell us a little bit about how you got into filmmaking?
I was just working hard as a production assistant and still working. Before it I loved to make short videos myself and edit them. I am a big movie fan. It’s just hard to imagine my life without films.
What’s your filmmaking mission? Name the most important thing you want viewers to experience when watching your movies.
I want to bring my ideas into the spotlight, and create a community with my shared vision. I want to start making a real difference to other people. Maybe sounds naive, but I really am. I truly believe that every person have something to tell. It’s just different ways how they share it: someone through photo, someone through art, and etc.
Who or what are your current filmmaking influences?
Terrence Malick, Lars von Trier, Wes Anderson, Jim Jarmusch.
Can you talk us through your creative process?
I don’t think that I have a specific creative process. I just have ideas in my head (sometimes I dream them), then I am looking for a talented scriptwriter, we are developing this idea into a script. I learn that script—have to have dramaturgy. On a production stage I just try to be calm and listen to people with whom I am working: DP, AD, Actors. All this little pieces I try to put in my head in a puzzle, which name is film.
When you’re looking for inspiration what do you do?
Inspiration . . . for a long time I don’t feel it actually. Probably drinking . . . (When I am in the city). Another great way to find inspiration is to go outdoors. Nature always gives something.
As an emerging director yourself, do you have any tips for people hoping to start a career in filmmaking?
Just working hard, have a goal and always follow it, learn, search, communicate, never give up.
You’re very hands-on with your projects. How hard is it wearing all the hats?
It’s very hard. When you are on low budget you have to be a producer and director. Unless someone will want to make it for free for you. But my experience shows that in the U.S. if someone is working for free the job is usually bad. Wearing all the hats is something that big time productions never will understand unless they’ve never been on very bottom like indie filmmakers. I am jealous. But I am also grateful, because this is great experience and it also gives you a pinch of understanding for people who work on lower positions. Not everyone in production knows how it feels to PA, for example.
What part of filmmaking do you geek out about the most?
I love to be on a set. To see how the world which you created is getting alive is truly awesome! I also like premieres. When everyone looks beautiful and just having fun. =)
What’s your five-year plan?
Make a feature. (And win Oscar.) Completed two additional short films since Soyka.
If you could have someone create a soundtrack for you life who would you want to compose it?
Sigur Ros.
Would you ever be interested in working on episodic television in the future?
Why not? Episodic television nowadays creating great content!
And finally, an easy one, cats or dogs?
Cats.
If you’d like to stay up-to-date with Anastasiya Sergienya and her projects—including Soyka—you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
