ВОЛЯ [VOL.2] VOLIA
On Saturday, 24.8.2024 Ukraine will celebrate the third Independence Day since the full-scale invasion.
On Sunday, 25.8.2024 we want to dedicate this years edition of our Ukrainian Independence Festival ВОЛЯ [VOL.2] VOLIA to you and to us. To Ukrainians and our friends: to those who fight, to those who stand, who help, who hope and who believe. We are able to celebrate this year just because we remain strong.
The Festival ВОЛЯ [VOL.2] VOLIA, which in Ukrainian stands for both “Willpower” and “Freedom” will highlight the strong connections between art and community that we have been building over the past 2,5 years at Hotel Continental. We hold on, stay together and invite you to spend this day with us, enjoy Ukrainian music, art, films, comedy, crafts, workshops, bar, food and chill in the garden.
Come an join us to celebrate, to gather in remembrance of all those who are not with us, and to dream together of a better future. And don´t forget: Ukraine is still independent and free!
Admission:
10€ early bird I 12€ online I 15€ doors I admission for kids until 14 years: free
The Festival is an charity event: Collected money will go to humanitarian aid for Ukraine.
Ukrainian Independence Festival 25.8.2024
Music Program
17:00 Dmytro Radzetskyi [Glass House]
Dmytro Radzetskyi is a Ukrainian guitarist and composer. Author of chamber, orchestral, electro-acoustic, rock compositions, soundtracks for short films, radio and TV-programs, arrangements for folk-instrument orchestra. As a classical guitar soloist he performs original music, as well as works by contemporary academic composers, both Ukrainian and international. Dmytro has given concerts and participated in festivals of contemporary, experimental, jazz and rock music at many venues across Ukraine, Poland, Germany, France, USA, Israel, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Netherlands.
20:00 Iris Forest [Theater]
Iris Forest is the stage name of Irene Dmytruk - musician, singer, and live performer from Kharkiv, Ukraine. It is the project which started up as minimalistic dark pop, where vocals and piano combine together. As of not that long ago it had been transformed into an electronic genre.
The first songs were written in 2016, the first performances played in 2018, then in the beginning of 2020 the stage name was invented, and finally, in 2021 the first EP was released.
By the present time, a number of performances was played, mainly in Kharkiv.
In 2021 Iris Forest won “СЦЕНА ХАРКІІВ” (a music competition organised by a music label and the house of culture Мастерская) and became a finalist in this project. The performance took place in Kyiv.
21:00 Aircraft [Theater]
Aircraft was founded back in 2011 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Aircraft’s music was created with a drum machine, guitar, and vocal only. The lo-fi sound is combined with gentle vocals, sometimes reminiscent of early Depeche Mode, warm and brooding guitar motifs and the classic sound of drum machines and synthesizers of back days, echoe Cocteau Twins and A.R. Kane. From light irony of John Maus, the vibe can switch to the depressive and gothic like This Mortal Coil, revealing the most hidden places of Aircraft's creativity, which can best be heard in the latest album Sadhu (2023). The Aircraft’s music can be found in various Spotify playlists and is in great demand on TikTok, where the band’s track Aeria went viral. Aircraft goes beyond just recording music and performing it live. It is known as a DJ project that takes part in various events all over Europe. Currently, Aircraft is based in Berlin. Wide open for new turns in his music career.
StandUp
18:00 StandUp [Glass House]
Yestandup Berlin will present a comedy program filled with hilarious jokes, funny stories, and a positive atmosphere brought to you!
All the comedians are Ukrainians now living in Germany (some even by choice). But don't worry, they haven’t been here long enough to lose their sharp sense of humor.
Line-up:
- Liosha Ralnikov
- Maryna Akopian
- Yuliia Onyshchenko
- Elizabeth Nastenko
Silent Disco
22:00 The Lazy Jesus [Glass House]
The Lazy Jesus is a Ukrainian DJ and sound producer who is always exploring multiple genres, looking for different music as deeply as possible. Recently, his focus has been on the ethnic sound of different regions of the world, which he embodies in his own work and in a series of specific events dedicated to the modern inter-e pretation of ancient sounds.
UA TRIBAL is new roots audio-visual project by Ukrainian sound producer The Lazy Jesus, in which he combined his passion for non-trivial rhythms with the musical folklore heritage of Ukraine.
23:00 Udda [Glass House]
Olha Udovenko, aka Udda, is a Ukrainian DJ and a former member of the Kultura Zvuku collective in Kharkiv. By working as a booker for the club and developing an electronic music school, Udda brought the music scene of the second-largest city in Ukraine to the forefront of international attention. Olha herself is known for her selections of leftfield bass, electro, and low-tempo IDM.
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Olha is based in Berlin, gaining recognition and performing globally at venues like RSO in Berlin, Bassiani in Tbilisi, and Radion in Amsterdam.
Exhibition
12:00-20:00 “UKRAINIAN WARTIME POSTERS” [Gallery]
The exhibition “UKRAINIAN WARTIME POSTERS” is featuring theartworks of contemporary Ukrainian graphic artists that were created in Ukraine during the war (2022 -2023) to fight Russianpropaganda, support the morale of Ukrainians, and document military events and Russia's warcrimes against Ukraine. They were exhibited in the public space of the Tourist Information Center and in central locations of Zaporizhzhia(Ukraine) and various other places in Europe. “WARTIME POSTERS” is an important cultural and artistic collection which will become the basis for the study and analysis of Ukrainian wartime art by art historians in the next generations. The posters of the exhibition are published as a book with the name “WARTIME POSTERS”.
Movie program
16:00 «Wounded» [Kino Club]
"WOUNDED" is a powerful artistic documentary based on the stage play. It captures the raw and heartfelt experiences of Ukrainians affected by the war, brought to life through real stories, modern poetry, and songs. The minimalist stage design and evocative visuals create an immersive experience, blending documentary filmmaking with artistic expression.
"WOUNDED" seeks to bridge the gap between those who have lived through war and those who have not, fostering empathy and understanding through the enduring power of storytelling and art.
A FILM DIRECTED BY: Pysanko Marta & Michael Mastierovyi(mindik)
17:00 «Roses. Film-Cabaret» [Kino Club]
«ROSES. FILM-CABARET» is a tragicomic musical, featuring 7 actresses of the Dakh Daughters Band, living through the pivotal moment of the 2014’ Maidan Revolution — a story of civil dignity and will being born in Ukraine, told in the language of cabaret by seven girls in white makeup and black tutus. This political cabaret draws its magic from combining the joie de vivre and the horror of the devastating war — even if we don’t see it yet, its shadow was always there, darkened by the bright stage lights.
Being the Dakh Daughters’ sound producer and close friend, Irena filmed her heroines for 7 years and managed to get incredible access to her protagonists, as well as get concert materials from more than 15 shows.
A FILM DIRECTED BY: Irena Stetsenko
18:30 «Me And Felix (aka: Rock Paper Grenade)» [Kino Club]
«ME AND FELIX (AKA: ROCK PAPER GRENADE)» is an adaptation of Artem Chekh's novel "Who Are You?". It tells the coming-of-age story of Tymofiy. Among all the people in his life, Felix stands out the most—a close friend of his grandmother, a former counterintelligence officer and GRU soldier, deeply scarred by the Afghan War. Befriending someone like Felix is both dangerous and exciting, much like growing up in the '90s.
Оwing to the screenplay being co-written with Artem Chekh, the film is filled with deep details that make the characters and situations vivid, allowing viewers to see the joys of people whose lives have been turned upside down by war.
A FILM DIRECTED BY: Iryna Tsilyk
Workshops
13:00-15:00 “Workshop for Creating a Greeting Card for kids” [Garden]
This workshop will help children create a unique greeting card with a teddy bear image, adding their own decorations and a personalized message.
13:00-15:00 “Make my shopper custom” [Gallery]
Make my shopper custom is a workshop on painting designer Shopers, which were sewn in Studioukraine by a Ukrainian artist.
You buy a shopper and together with the artist paint it, and make your own design using ready-made cut prints, or at your discretion.
15:00-17:00 “Accessories with ornaments” [Gallery]
Workshop on painting accessories with ornaments from different parts of Ukraine. With the help of stamps, we paint a choker or a belt with ornaments or letters of the alphabet, which is also a symbol of resistance and identity. Printing on your clothes is also possible.
15:00-17:00 “Poster workshop by Anna Zviagintseva” [Gallery]
Anna Zviagintseva is an artist and illustrator originally from Kyiv, now based in Berlin due to the war. With over 10 years of experience in the field, Anna is an active member of the Ukrainian community "Illustraktor."
The workshop focuses on creating posters as a form of expression during challenging times. We will explore the history of military and political posters, discuss the fundamentals of visual metaphor, composition, and color theory. Participants will use collage and drawing techniques to create their own posters on current and relevant topics.
Market
12:00-19:00 “Craft&Flea Market ” [Garden & Lobby]
Designer jewelry from pewter and natural stones, inspired by forest: @igni_
Handmade crochet amigurumi toys: @tikkimh
Illustrations, Screen-printed T-shirts and bags: @marta_lodola
Accessories made of clay, wood and metal: @dastbaft.de
Watercolor graphics by an Ukrainian artistic brand "KRUTO»: @art_kruto
Sumi-e painting, vintage clothes and bijouterie: @irshika
A series of linocuts dedicated to spiritual search, myth and awareness of inner identity: @sharafanenko.art
Second hand clothes & accessories and small size collage art: @alicebrunelloluise_ph
Handmade clay works and necklaces: @_kihod_
Designer clothes: @circulation.of.infernation @doch.2020
Knitted products like hats, bonnets and balaclavas: @mshiyan @ma_armor
Bar and Food
14:00-16:00 “Lunch with Varenyky” [Garden]
A detailed information will be coming soon!
17:00-19:00 “Dinner with barbeque” [Garden]
A detailed information will be coming soon!