Under the presidential edict №501 of November, 26 2005 "On establishing within the Ministry of Culture a Department on cinematography and introducing alterations to several edicts of the President of the Republic of Belarus: a Department on cinematography is to arise.   

The Department, possessing the rights of a juridical person, is established by merging two other state bodies.

The Department will coordinate the work of cinemas, place state orders for creating motion pictures and grant certificates for projecting, hiring, replicating and selling films. The Department will be involved into the activity on fighting pornography and violence propagation.

The founders of the Department consider the measure to be helpful for improving the current state of affairs in the sphere of cinematography and avoiding functions duplication.