select the Belarusian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. The competition consisted of a semi-final and final held on 21 December 2011 and 14 February 2012, respectively. Both shows were broadcast on the Belarus 1, Belarus TV and Radius FM as well as online via the broadcaster's official website tvr.by. The final was also broadcast online via the official Eurovision Song Contest website eurovision.tv. Competing entries Artists and composers were able to submit their applications and entries to the broadcaster between 1 November 2011 and 25 November 2011. At the closing of the deadline, 56 songs were received by the broadcaster and 115 artists applied for the competition. Auditions were held at the Youth Variety Theater in Minsk where a jury panel was tasked with selecting up to fifteen entries to proceed to the televised national final. The jury consisted of Alexander Tikhanovich (chairman of the jury, singer), Inna Afanasieva (singer), Alexey Khlestov (singer), Anatoly Yarmolenko (director of the ensemble Syabry), Nikolay Skorikov (executive producer of the TV channel Belarus 1), Yuriy Vashchuk (singer-songwriter and television presenter), Leonid Shirin (composer), Evgeny Oleinik (songwriter and producer), Alexander Mezhenny (choreographer) and Dmitry Baranov (national final project manager). Fifteen semi-finalists were selected and announced on 6 December 2011. Among the competing artists was 2011 Belarusian Eurovision contestant Anastasia Vinnikova. The competing entries were presented to the public in the lead up to the national final through special diaries that aired to promote the competition, a weekly review programme broadcast online via the broadcaster's official website and aired on Belarus 1 and Belarus TV. Semi-final The televised semi-final took place on 21 December 2011 at the BTRC studios in Minsk, hosted by Denis Kurian. Prior to the semi-final, a draw for the running order took place on 16 December 2011. A 50/50 combination of votes from ten jury members made up of music professionals and public televoting selected the top five songs to qualify to the final. The jury consisted of Alexander Tikhanovich, Inna Afanasieva, Alexey Khlestov, Anatoly Yarmolenko, Nikolay Skorikov, Yuriy Vashchuk, Leonid Shirin, Evgeny Oleinik, Alexander Mezhenny and Dmitry Baranov. In addition to the performances from the competitors, the show featured guest performances by 2011 Belarusian Junior Eurovision contestant Lidiya Zablotskaya, members of the Theatre of Modern Choreography D.O.Z.SK.I, Inna Afanasieva and Alexey Khlestov. Final The televised final took place on 14 February 2012 at the Sports Palace in Minsk, hosted