Country Belarus Selected entrant Ruslan Alekhno | Selection process Eurofest 2008 Selected song "Hasta La Vista" | |
Selection date(s) Semi-final
21 December 2007
Final
21 January 2008 Semi-final result Failed to qualify (17th) | ||
Belarus chose their entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 through a public selection, organized by BTRC, that took part in two phases. The competition "Eurofest" consists of a semifinal round on 21 December 2007, and a final a month later on 21 January 2008. The first phase of the selection was the semifinal round in which 15 singers showcased their abilities as performers to the viewers and a professional jury. The televote winner, Ruslan Alehno, was secured a place in the final, while the jury selected the bands Litesound and Po Glazam, and singer Gunesh Abasova. These four competitors had the choice to proceed with the song they performed in the semifinal or choose a different song. In the final round, the decision fell in the hands of the jury who also tooke into consideration the televoting results when they choose the winner. Ruslan Alekhno won with the song Hasta la vista.
Contents
Semi-final
The semifinal of Eurofest took place at the BTRC television studios. The professional jury consisted of Mikhail Finberg, Anatoliy Yarmolenko, Vasily Rainchik, Yadviga Poplavskaya, Irina Dorofeeva, and others. After the conclusion of the fifteen songs, viewers were able to televote for their favorites free of charge. Originally, two or three performers are chosen, however the jury decided to include three artists in addition to the televote winner creating a total of four.
Final
Artists competing in the final still have the choice to change their songs.
At Eurovision
Belarus took part in the second semi-final on 22 May 2008, but failed to qualify to the final.
Spokespersons
For the 2008 contest the spokesperson for the Belarus broadcast was Olga Barabanschikova.