By Compiled by Spectator staff

Copyright sme

Slovakia’s largest multicultural and multi-genre festival, [fjúžn], celebrates its 20th anniversary. From 19 to 27 September, Bratislava will come alive with concerts, films, theatre, discussions, exhibitions, and community events. The theme of this year’s jubilee edition is Courage – the courage to discover, to change, and to live diversity in a society that is becoming increasingly polarised.

“The festival was founded at a time when migration was still on the margins of public interest in Slovakia. Today, society is more diverse – almost 350,000 foreigners live in Slovakia, fifteen times more than two decades ago. After twenty years, we can see that diversity is not a threat but a source of inspiration. This year’s theme, Courage, is about how, even in difficult conditions, we need determination to stand by the values of freedom, respect, and human dignity,” says Veronika Fishbone Vlčková, Director of the Milan Šimečka Foundation, which organises the festival.

Program highlights

Over the course of one week, more than twenty events will take place. The festival will open with Be [fjúžn] Love – a concert by Katarína Koščová, Mila Medvedovska, and Daniel Špiner, accompanied by a discussion on how cultural and community activities can help us better understand one another in polarised times and strengthen the voices of people with migrant backgrounds in Slovakia. The opening night will also feature a DJ set by Sasha Mamaev a.k.a. Gonso.

At the [fjúžn] Zone during Saturday’s Good Market (Dobrý trh), numerous communities with foreign backgrounds will present a vibrant programme. Saturday will continue with From Letters to Stage by THEATRAbratislava at Teatro Colorato, a play based on letters written by Slovak children to Ukrainian children.

On Sunday, the traditional [fjúžn] Walk will take place at Nová Cvernovka with Olga Kurylenko and her daughter, visual artist Oksana Sadovenko. The Sunday programme will also feature the film Between Valleys and Hills: Tracing the Future Sound of Slovakia by Argentinian musician Cristian Estrella, followed by a discussion and his evening DJ set [fjúžn] Sounds: Mira Tus Manos.

Community and collaboration

The programme also includes the Slovak premiere of Exodus, a film about people from different countries facing persecution but sharing the same desire for safety and freedom. Other highlights include the experiential walk’n’taste with food blogger Čoje, to discover international delights in Slovakia together; the contemporary dance project threeiscompany & Jaro Viňarský: IHOPEIWILL on migration, loss, and hope; and a guided tour in English of the exhibition Kvet Nguyễn: Till the Water Meets the Shore. Visitors can also join the debate Futurit meets [fjúžn]: South, East and West in Today’s Pop Music and the Konektiv [fjúžn] Night vol. II, blending Slovak and international music scenes, closing with a dance set [fjúžn] Sounds: Polisaurus.

The festival will also feature the quiz Do You Know the World We Have at Home?, testing knowledge of world cultures, followed by the club night [fjúžn] Festival x Mäsokombinát with SICARIA, one of the most prominent figures in the UK bass music scene.

The festival will culminate on Saturday with a second [fjúžn] Walk alongside Russian civic activist Filipp Sedov and a community afternoon at the new LOOM centre – established by the City of Bratislava as a support space for people with migrant backgrounds. The events Discover LOOM and Presentation of the Platform of Foreigners will provide a space for discussion, collaboration, relaxation, and excellent food.

A festival of resilience

Throughout the festival, Nová Cvernovka will host the exhibition Humans of [fjúžn] 2020–2024 in the Archipelago pavilion, presenting portraits and stories of people from abroad who have made Slovakia their home.

“After the recent attacks on civil society, this year’s festival is taking place in a more modest format – with changes in the team and a smaller budget, we had to adapt the programme to reality. That’s why we focus even more on collaborations, community activities, powerful experiences, and resonant topics. But one thing has not changed in 20 years – our emphasis on culture, cooperation, and mutual understanding,” adds Martin Brix, [fjúžn] Festival Manager.

From a small series of lectures at the Faculty of Education of Comenius University, [fjúžn] has grown over two decades into the most important multicultural festival in Slovakia. It has become a place where artists, experts, communities, and the public meet to explore what it means to feel at home in a diverse society. The stories of people from abroad who have become our neighbours, colleagues, and friends prove that Slovakia is already a diverse country.

The complete programme is available at: www.festival.fjuzn.sk