June #2 - On Georgian and Belarusian Future
Film Screenings, Exhibitions and Electronic Music from Ukraine
Dear all,
after coming back from a research trip to Upper Silesia, which was very successful and insightful, I am happy to be back home and to share some upcoming events with you! If you’d like to know more about what we did in Poland, I am posting small vlogs about our research project on my Instagram, feel free to take a look :)
In this issue:
🗣️Panel Discussion: Georgia Between Resistance and Isolation
🎞️ Central- and Eastern Europe at JFBB: TREASURE and IDA
🖼️ Exhibition and Film Night: Belarusian Culture Under Pressure
🔈Ukrainian Techno in Berlin: ICKPA and VECHIR
🥟 Der Blaue Fuchs - Georgian Restaurant Tip
So, let’s dive right in!
🗣️Georgia Between Resistance and Isolation
With the passage of the so-called "Foreign Agent Law," Georgia is currently experiencing a historic shift. This law, similar to those in Russia and other authoritarian states, targets all civil society actors, NGOs, independent media, and cultural institutions. What does this mean for the future of Georgia and its democracy? What impact will the current political direction have on Georgia's EU association? These and other questions will be discussed in the panel discussion “Georgia Between Resistance and Isolation”. The panelists are Zaal Andronikashvili (Literary Scholar, ZfL), Nino Haratischwili (Author), Anna Margvelashvili (Historian, Soviet Past Research Laboratory), and Michael Roth (Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag). Details and Registration here.
📆 June 17th, 7 PM
📍 Leibniz-Zentrum für Literatur- und Kulturforschung / Wilmersdorf
💵 free
🗣️ German
🎞️ Central- and Eastern Europe at JFBB
JFBB - Jewish Filmfestival Berlin Brandenburg is starting next week and I would like to raise your attention to two films, that are part of this year’s festival:
TREASURE - Dir. Julia von Heinz
A father-daughter trip to Poland, shortly after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Edek, Ruth’s father, actually never wanted to go back to the place where almost his entire family was wiped out in the Shoah. But now, contrary to expectations, he quickly warms to Poland, while Ruth struggles with her father's unpredictability. Starring Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry, this comedic drama is a heart-warming and emotional journey into a family’s uprooted fate.
Side note: I am especially excited about this film being screened in Berlin, as I have been an intern on this production for three months last year - a really intense experience, full of special encounters. You can try to find me as an extra in the film 😁 Find out more.
📆 June 19th, 9:15 PM & June 22nd, 9:30 PM
📍Kino Central / Mitte & Filmkunst 66 / Charlottenburg
💵 10€
🗣️ English, Polish with English subtitles
IDA - Dir. Paweł Pawlikowski
As the young novice and orphan Anna discovers shortly before her vows that her real name is Ida and that she is of Jewish descent, she beings a journey of finding herself. Not only her own history, but also a part of Polish history - and starts exploring the world outside of the walls of her monastery. IDA received the Oscar for Best International Film in 2015 and is a beautiful black and white drama about the Jewish heritage in Poland in the beginning of the post-war era. Find out more.
📆 June 22nd, 8 PM
📍Kino Krokodil / Prenzlauer Berg
💵 10€
🗣️ Polish with German subtitles
You can find the full festival program here.
🖼️ Belarusian Culture Under Pressure
Institut für Europäische Politik is hosting a Pop-Up exhibition that brings together multiple perspectives from Belarusian artists in exile, accompanied by film screenings and a panel discussion. The exhibitions highlight folk archival photography as cultural heritage and feature illustrations that vividly portray the ongoing struggles for justice and democracy in Belarus. Despite the recent silence around these issues, the struggle is far from over, and the films offer powerful narratives of people continuing to fight for a free Belarus. Details and Registration here.
📆 June 20th, 6:30 PM
📍SomoS Arts / Kreuzberg
💵 free
🗣️ German & Belarusian
🔈Ukrainian Techno in Berlin
Kyiv and Berlin have been compared for a while now, with Ukraine's vibrant electronic music scene becoming increasingly influential in Berlin. If you'd like to experience this dynamic cultural exchange, here are two upcoming opportunities: ICKPA 2024 at RSO starting on 21st June, a music festival that also hosts panel discussions on decoloniality and Ukraine on 20th June, and Vechir at Aeden on 28th June, which is also a fundraising event.
📆 June 21st / June 28th
📍RSO & Aeden / Treptow-Köpenick & Kreuzberg
💵 26,80€ / 15€
🥟 Der Blaue Fuchs
At Der Blaue Fuchs, a cosy Georgian restaurant next to Kollwitzplatz, you can enjoy Georgian food served in Supra menus including 3 main dishes (you can choose between 3 different compositions) accompanied by delicious Khinkali (Georgian dumplings) and Khachapuri (Georgian bred filled with melted cheese), starters and desert. You can also order a la carte, and do not miss out on their wine selection!
A thank you to my amazing friend Kira for bringing my attention to this one and testing it with me <3
📍Knaackstr. 43, 10405 Berlin / Prenzlauer Berg
💵 10€ +
🍴vegetarian and vegan options available
Thank you for reading and stay tuned for the next issue coming in two weeks on 1st of July!
If you want to share your event tip with the readers, let me know! Feel free to reach out with submissions, questions or feedback anytime via DM or juliaschneider@substack.com.
Lots of love,
From Julia’s Desk
Curious to learn & do more? Check out these resources:
JOE-LIST - CEE Career & Education Opportunities
DAAD - Summer Schools 2024 in CEE
As always many inspirations!
Wow Julia, what an inspiration! Definitely gunna check out the Georgian food recommendation. The Ukrainian techno sounds super cool, and the polish film you worked on! Maybe I'll go and see it if I'm in town 🫶