Program

09:00- 12:00
 
Bird radio:
Aleksander Hudzik i Kinga Sabak,
Mint Magazine
FESTIVAL RADIO | online

You can listen to us live at www.literackisopot.pl and as podcasts on Spotify Goyki 3 on air. We will talk about literature, read excerpts from literary works, play lots of good music, and more!

Partner of the event is the European Parliament

more

Aleksander Hudzik
Kinga Sabak

Location: Goyki 3 Art Incubator

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09:00- 12:00
 
Bird radio:
Anna Dudzińska,
Channel III of the Polish Radio,
Magdalena Kicińska,
Pismo magazine
FESTIVAL RADIO | online

You can listen to us live at www.literackisopot.pl and as podcasts on Spotify Goyki 3 on air. We will talk about literature, read excerpts from literary works, play lots of good music, and more!

Partner of the event is the European Parliament

more

Anna Dudzińska
Magdalena Kicińska

Location: Goyki 3 Art Incubator

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09:00- 12:00
 
Bird radio:
Marta Perchuć-Burzyńska,
TOKFM Radio,
Łukasz Wojtusik,
Wojtusik’s Alphabet
FESTIVAL RADIO | online

You can listen to us live at www.literackisopot.pl and as podcasts on Spotify Goyki 3 on air. We will talk about literature, read excerpts from literary works, play lots of good music, and more!

Partner of the event is the European Parliament

more

Marta Perchuć-Burzyńska
Łukasz Wojtusik

Location: Goyki 3 Art Incubator

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09:00- 12:00
 
Bird radio:
Maciej Makselon i Agata Passent,
Polityka weekly /
Channel I of the Polish Radio
FESTIVAL RADIO | online

You can listen to us live at www.literackisopot.pl and as podcasts on Spotify Goyki 3 on air. We will talk about literature, read excerpts from literary works, play lots of good music, and more!

Partner of the event is the European Parliament

more

Maciej Makselon
Agata Passent

Location: Goyki 3 Art Incubator

View map ››
10:00- 20:00
 
A Short History of Alarms II
Mixed media installation
ART BY THE BOOK

A Short History of Alarms II:

Andreea Anghel

Mixed media installation, 2025

 

The premise of the installation, 'A Short History of Alarms II', is that AI is arriving as a great equaliser when it comes to the concept of work — with many already losing work (and sleep) to something which is trumpeted as a solution to humanity's problems. Imagine we take a nostalgic look back at the timeline of work and its intrinsic, irreplaceable humanity, in an attempt to find a way forward.

Corporate postcapitalism appears to be fertile ground for an idea that was ironically spearheaded at the dawn of the computer age as a utopian force for good. Today, however, the fruits of one's labour are diminished day in, day out in the promised land of trickle-down economics.

We begin with primitive bipeds working together to secure food and settle down to build the first agrarian societies. The invention of reading and writing begat the process of documenting cognitive and emotional labour. We then move on to the Industrial Revolution and the inception of Keynesian economic concepts of labour, which were in opposition to Marxist ideology. Finally, we arrive at today's conundrum, where computers, which were once considered our companions, have suddenly become a possible means to an end.

The installation also functions as a small shrine where people can come to light a candle in mourning. As communities tend to come together to commemorate the transition of life to death, Anghel aims to provide a space where people can gather and share their grief, regrets and perhaps even hope for a better future.

Created for the 13th edition of the Sopot by the Book festival, the installation is part of the Goyki 3 Art Inkubator visual arts programme, which in 2025 is dedicated to exploring work in its social, economic, cultural, and geographical contexts.

more

Location: Goyki Park

View map ››
10:00- 20:00
 
A Short History of Alarms II
Mixed media installation
ART BY THE BOOK

A Short History of Alarms II:

Andreea Anghel

Mixed media installation, 2025

 

The premise of the installation, 'A Short History of Alarms II', is that AI is arriving as a great equaliser when it comes to the concept of work — with many already losing work (and sleep) to something which is trumpeted as a solution to humanity's problems. Imagine we take a nostalgic look back at the timeline of work and its intrinsic, irreplaceable humanity, in an attempt to find a way forward.

Corporate postcapitalism appears to be fertile ground for an idea that was ironically spearheaded at the dawn of the computer age as a utopian force for good. Today, however, the fruits of one's labour are diminished day in, day out in the promised land of trickle-down economics.

We begin with primitive bipeds working together to secure food and settle down to build the first agrarian societies. The invention of reading and writing begat the process of documenting cognitive and emotional labour. We then move on to the Industrial Revolution and the inception of Keynesian economic concepts of labour, which were in opposition to Marxist ideology. Finally, we arrive at today's conundrum, where computers, which were once considered our companions, have suddenly become a possible means to an end.

The installation also functions as a small shrine where people can come to light a candle in mourning. As communities tend to come together to commemorate the transition of life to death, Anghel aims to provide a space where people can gather and share their grief, regrets and perhaps even hope for a better future.

Created for the 13th edition of the Sopot by the Book festival, the installation is part of the Goyki 3 Art Inkubator visual arts programme, which in 2025 is dedicated to exploring work in its social, economic, cultural, and geographical contexts.

more

Location: Goyki Park

View map ››
10:00- 20:00
 
A Short History of Alarms II
Mixed media installation
ART BY THE BOOK

A Short History of Alarms II:

Andreea Anghel

Mixed media installation, 2025

 

The premise of the installation, 'A Short History of Alarms II', is that AI is arriving as a great equaliser when it comes to the concept of work — with many already losing work (and sleep) to something which is trumpeted as a solution to humanity's problems. Imagine we take a nostalgic look back at the timeline of work and its intrinsic, irreplaceable humanity, in an attempt to find a way forward.

Corporate postcapitalism appears to be fertile ground for an idea that was ironically spearheaded at the dawn of the computer age as a utopian force for good. Today, however, the fruits of one's labour are diminished day in, day out in the promised land of trickle-down economics.

We begin with primitive bipeds working together to secure food and settle down to build the first agrarian societies. The invention of reading and writing begat the process of documenting cognitive and emotional labour. We then move on to the Industrial Revolution and the inception of Keynesian economic concepts of labour, which were in opposition to Marxist ideology. Finally, we arrive at today's conundrum, where computers, which were once considered our companions, have suddenly become a possible means to an end.

The installation also functions as a small shrine where people can come to light a candle in mourning. As communities tend to come together to commemorate the transition of life to death, Anghel aims to provide a space where people can gather and share their grief, regrets and perhaps even hope for a better future.

Created for the 13th edition of the Sopot by the Book festival, the installation is part of the Goyki 3 Art Inkubator visual arts programme, which in 2025 is dedicated to exploring work in its social, economic, cultural, and geographical contexts.

more

Location: Goyki Park

View map ››
10:00- 20:00
 
A Short History of Alarms II
Mixed media installation
ART BY THE BOOK

A Short History of Alarms II:

Andreea Anghel

Mixed media installation, 2025

 

The premise of the installation, 'A Short History of Alarms II', is that AI is arriving as a great equaliser when it comes to the concept of work — with many already losing work (and sleep) to something which is trumpeted as a solution to humanity's problems. Imagine we take a nostalgic look back at the timeline of work and its intrinsic, irreplaceable humanity, in an attempt to find a way forward.

Corporate postcapitalism appears to be fertile ground for an idea that was ironically spearheaded at the dawn of the computer age as a utopian force for good. Today, however, the fruits of one's labour are diminished day in, day out in the promised land of trickle-down economics.

We begin with primitive bipeds working together to secure food and settle down to build the first agrarian societies. The invention of reading and writing begat the process of documenting cognitive and emotional labour. We then move on to the Industrial Revolution and the inception of Keynesian economic concepts of labour, which were in opposition to Marxist ideology. Finally, we arrive at today's conundrum, where computers, which were once considered our companions, have suddenly become a possible means to an end.

The installation also functions as a small shrine where people can come to light a candle in mourning. As communities tend to come together to commemorate the transition of life to death, Anghel aims to provide a space where people can gather and share their grief, regrets and perhaps even hope for a better future.

Created for the 13th edition of the Sopot by the Book festival, the installation is part of the Goyki 3 Art Inkubator visual arts programme, which in 2025 is dedicated to exploring work in its social, economic, cultural, and geographical contexts.

more

Location: Goyki Park

View map ››
11:00- 20:00
 
Book Fair
  • Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne Sp. z o.o.
  • Goyki 3 Art Incubator
  • Grupa Wydawnicza Relacja / Wydawnictwo Mamania
  • Muzeum Sopotu / Biblioteka Sopocka
  • Baltic Sea Cultural Center
  • Rumuński Instytut Kultury
  • Afera Publishing
  • Agora Publishing
  • Akapit Press Publishing
  • Amaltea Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo BOSZ
  • Wydawnictwo Claroscuro
  • Black Publishing
  • CzuCzu Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo Części Proste
  • Wydawnictwo Debit/ Wydawnictwo Sonia Draga
  • Splinter Publishing
  • Two Sisters Publishing
  • Chameleon Publishing
  • Book Climates Publishing
  • Literary Publishing
  • Margins Publishing
  • Marpress Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo Mięta
  • Wydawnictwo Nisza
  • Wydawnictwo Officyna
  • Pauza Publishing
  • Poznan Publishing House
  • Taste of Words Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo Timof
  • Publishers Here to Read
  • Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego
  • Wydawnictwo Zakamarki
  • Wydawnictwo ZNAK
more

Location: Sopot Friends Square

View map ››
11:00- 20:00
 
Book Fair
  • Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne Sp. z o.o.
  • Goyki 3 Art Incubator
  • Grupa Wydawnicza Relacja / Wydawnictwo Mamania
  • Muzeum Sopotu / Biblioteka Sopocka
  • Baltic Sea Cultural Center
  • Rumuński Instytut Kultury
  • Afera Publishing
  • Agora Publishing
  • Akapit Press Publishing
  • Amaltea Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo BOSZ
  • Wydawnictwo Claroscuro
  • Black Publishing
  • CzuCzu Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo Części Proste
  • Wydawnictwo Debit/ Wydawnictwo Sonia Draga
  • Splinter Publishing
  • Two Sisters Publishing
  • Chameleon Publishing
  • Book Climates Publishing
  • Literary Publishing
  • Margins Publishing
  • Marpress Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo Mięta
  • Wydawnictwo Nisza
  • Wydawnictwo Officyna
  • Pauza Publishing
  • Poznan Publishing House
  • Taste of Words Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo Timof
  • Publishers Here to Read
  • Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego
  • Wydawnictwo Zakamarki
  • Wydawnictwo ZNAK
more

Location: Sopot Friends Square

View map ››
11:00- 17:00
 
Translators on duty
Polish Literary
Translators Association
ADDITIONAL EVENT

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 a.m. - Maciej Studencki, Marta Piotrowicz-Kendzia

12.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. - Maciej Studencki, Martyna Lemańczyk

1.00 p.m. - 2.00 p.m. - Monika Szymaniak, Martyna Lemańczyk

2.00 p.m. - 3.00 p.m. - Martyna Tomczak, Tomasz S. Gałązka

3.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. - Martyna Tomczak, Tomasz S. Gałązka

4.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. - Maciej Studencki, Aleksandra Woźniak-Marchewka, Tomasz S. Gałązka

more

Location: Goyki Park

View map ››
11:00- 20:00
 
Book Fair
  • Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne Sp. z o.o.
  • Goyki 3 Art Incubator
  • Grupa Wydawnicza Relacja / Wydawnictwo Mamania
  • Muzeum Sopotu / Biblioteka Sopocka
  • Baltic Sea Cultural Center
  • Rumuński Instytut Kultury
  • Afera Publishing
  • Agora Publishing
  • Akapit Press Publishing
  • Amaltea Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo BOSZ
  • Wydawnictwo Claroscuro
  • Black Publishing
  • CzuCzu Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo Części Proste
  • Wydawnictwo Debit/ Wydawnictwo Sonia Draga
  • Splinter Publishing
  • Two Sisters Publishing
  • Chameleon Publishing
  • Book Climates Publishing
  • Literary Publishing
  • Margins Publishing
  • Marpress Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo Mięta
  • Wydawnictwo Nisza
  • Wydawnictwo Officyna
  • Pauza Publishing
  • Poznan Publishing House
  • Taste of Words Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo Timof
  • Publishers Here to Read
  • Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego
  • Wydawnictwo Zakamarki
  • Wydawnictwo ZNAK
more

Location: Sopot Friends Square

View map ››
11:00- 20:00
 
Book Fair
  • Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne Sp. z o.o.
  • Goyki 3 Art Incubator
  • Grupa Wydawnicza Relacja / Wydawnictwo Mamania
  • Muzeum Sopotu / Biblioteka Sopocka
  • Baltic Sea Cultural Center
  • Rumuński Instytut Kultury
  • Afera Publishing
  • Agora Publishing
  • Akapit Press Publishing
  • Amaltea Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo BOSZ
  • Wydawnictwo Claroscuro
  • Black Publishing
  • CzuCzu Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo Części Proste
  • Wydawnictwo Debit/ Wydawnictwo Sonia Draga
  • Splinter Publishing
  • Two Sisters Publishing
  • Chameleon Publishing
  • Book Climates Publishing
  • Literary Publishing
  • Margins Publishing
  • Marpress Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo Mięta
  • Wydawnictwo Nisza
  • Wydawnictwo Officyna
  • Pauza Publishing
  • Poznan Publishing House
  • Taste of Words Publishing
  • Wydawnictwo Timof
  • Publishers Here to Read
  • Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego
  • Wydawnictwo Zakamarki
  • Wydawnictwo ZNAK
more

Location: Sopot Friends Square

View map ››
12:00- 15:00
 
Translators on duty
Polish Literary
Translators Association
ADDITIONAL EVENT

12.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. - Maciej Studencki, Ola Brożek-Sala

1.00 p.m. - 2.00 p.m. - Martyna Tomczak, Aleksandra Woźniak-Marchewka

2.00 p.m. - 3.00 p.m. - Maciej Studencki, Małgorzata Wilska

more

Location: Goyki Park

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12:00- 13:00
 
Agnieszka Jelonek
Koniec świata,
umyj okna
leading: Hanna Łozowska RETURNS

Agnieszka Jelonek

Location: Scena Kameralna at Wybrzeże Theatre

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13:00- 14:30
 
Between Languages: Multilingual
Interpretations of the World
leading: Dagny Kurdwanowska DISCUSSIONS
Partner of the event is the European Parliament

more

Jakub Kornhauser
Agnieszka Walulik
Jerzy Koch

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

View map ››
13:00- 14:30
 
The Genealogy of
Polish Feminism:
Brach-Czaina
leading: Paulina Małochleb DISCUSSIONS

Joanna B. Bednarek
Agnieszka Graff
Sławomira Walczewska

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

View map ››
13:30- 14:30
 
Jakub Ćwiek
Topiel
leading: Łukasz Wojtusik RETURNS

Jakub Ćwiek

Location: Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Savior in Sopot

View map ››
13:30- 14:30
 
Daniel Odija
Pusty Przelot
leading: Przemysław Rydzewski RETURNS

Daniel Odija

Location: Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Savior in Sopot

View map ››
13:30- 14:30
 
Lucian Dan Teodorovci
Celelalte poveşti de dragoste
leading: Łukasz Wojtusik Drum bun!

Lucian Dan Teodorovic

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

View map ››
14:00- 15:00
 
Lavinia Braniște
Interior zero
leading: Georgina Gryboś Drum bun!

Lavinia Braniște

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

View map ››
14:00- 15:00
 
Maciej Siembieda
Sobowtór
leading: Marzena Bakowska

Maciej Siembieda

Location: Smak Słowa bookshop

View map ››
14:00- 15:00
 
Andrzej Dybczak
Las duchów
leading: Dorota Karaś h/History

Andrzej Dybczak

Location: Scena Kameralna at Wybrzeże Theatre

View map ››
15:00- 16:00
 
Anda Rottenberg leading: Michał Nogaś NOGAŚ IN THE PARK

Anda Rotteberg

Location: Goyki Park

View map ››
15:00- 16:00
 
Tatiana Țîbuleac
Grădina de sticlă
leading: Magdalena Kicińska Drum bun!

Tatiana Țîbuleac

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

View map ››
15:00- 16:00
 
Eliza Kącka leading: Michał Nogaś NOGAŚ IN THE PARK

Eliza Kącka

Location: Goyki Park

View map ››
15:00- 16:00
 
Elżbieta Łapczyńska leading: Michał Nogaś NOGAŚ IN THE PARK

Elżbieta Łapczyńska

Location: Goyki Park

View map ››
15:00- 16:00
 
Ana i Eduard Dragu
Mâini cuminți
leading: Marta Perchuć-Burzyńska Drum bun!

Ana & Eduard Dragu

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

View map ››
15:00- 16:00
 
Paweł Sołtys leading: Michał Nogaś NOGAŚ IN THE PARK

Paweł Sołtys

Location: Goyki Park

View map ››
15:30- 16:30
 
Aleksandra Zbroja
Muszę ci coś powiedzieć
leading: Małgorzata Muraszko US

Aleksandra Zbroja

Location: Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Savior in Sopot

View map ››
15:30- 16:30
 
Maciej Pisuk
Staniemy się tacy jak on.
Głosy z przeklętej ulicy
leading: Anna Dudzińska US

Maciej Pisuk

Location: Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Savior in Sopot

View map ››
15:30- 16:30
 
Dorota Borodaj
Szkodniki
leading: Ana Matusevič US

Dorota Borodaj

Location: Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Savior in Sopot

View map ››
15:30- 16:30
 
Oleg Serebrian
Woldemar
leading: Dagny Kurdwanowska Drum bun!

Oleg Serebrian

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

View map ››
16:00- 17:00
 
Jul Łyskawa
Prawdziwa historia
Jeffreya Watersa
i jego ojców
leading: Paulina Małochleb DEBUTS

Jul Łyskawa

Location: Smak Słowa bookshop

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16:00- 17:00
 
Patryk Zalaszewski
Luneta z rybiej głowy
leading: Marta Pilarska DEBUTS
 
more

Patryk Zalaszewski

Location: Smak Słowa bookshop

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16:00- 17:00
 
Raluca Nagy
Teo de la 16 la 18
leading: Paulina Małochleb Drum bun!

Raluca Nagy

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

View map ››
16:00- 17:00
 
Weronika Stencel
Obiturianci
leading: Joanna Borowik DEBUTS

Weronika Stencel

Location: Smak Słowa bookshop

View map ››
16:00- 17:00
 
Radosław Kobierski
Na wulkanie
leading: Marta Pilarska US

Radosław Kobierski

Location: Scena Kameralna at Wybrzeże Theatre

View map ››
16:00- 17:00
 
Zofia Lorek
Stany przejściowe
leading: Przemysław Rydzewski DEBUTS
 
more

Zofia Lorek

Location: Smak Słowa bookshop

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17:00- 18:00
 
Slavic Identity in
Literature and Culture:
Between Tradition
and Modernity
leading: Karolina Kozłowska YOUNG ADULT BY THE BOOK

How do contemporary literature and popular culture draw on Slavic mythology and beliefs? Are Slavic themes merely a passing trend or an enduring part of our identity?

These and many other questions will be explored by our panel of guests.

During the discussion, we’ll talk about how literature and popular culture are contributing to the revival of interest in Slavic motifs; which myths and stereotypes still persist in narratives about our past; and how creators can draw authentically from this rich heritage

more

Aleksandra Seliga
Wiktoria Korzeniewska

Location: Goyki Park

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17:00- 18:00
 
Cătălin Mihuleac
America de peste pogrom
leading: Aleksander Hudzik Drum bun!

Cătălin Mihuleac

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

View map ››
17:00- 18:00
 
Maria Karpińska
Ucichło
leading: Aleksander Hudzik AiR

Maria Karpińska

Location: Goyki Park

View map ››
17:00- 18:00
 
Justyna Suchecka
Education, youth and
the power of stories
leading: Karolina Kozłowska YOUNG ADULT BY THE BOOK

This won't be a lesson — it'll be an engaging discussion that you won't forget. Justyna Suchecka, a journalist, author and tireless ally of young people, has long demonstrated that education encompasses far more than school desks and exams. At the Sopot by the Book Festival, we’ll ask her when she first felt compelled to speak out on this issue, whether it was harder to convince her editors or earn students’ trust, and how the young people she meets inspire her.

We'll take a behind-the-scenes look at Young Power, discuss the responsibility that comes with words, the boundaries of privacy on social media, and the process of turning reportage into a book. Expect honest reflections, inspiring stories and anecdotes that will make you smile (and perhaps shed a tear or two). If you want to learn how to talk about school and young people without being boring or condescending, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

more

Justyna Suchecka

Location: Sopoteka

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17:00- 18:00
 
Love by the Book:
Storylines That
Captivate Readers
leading: Karolina Kozłowska YOUNG ADULT BY THE BOOK

Why can’t we resist stories in which the characters initially hate each other, pretend to be in a relationship or transform a friendship into a romance?

Romance literature is full of tropes that we love and keep coming back to. But what is it about storylines such as 'enemies to lovers', 'fake dating', 'grumpy x sunshine', and 'forbidden love' that continue to capture readers’ imaginations? Which books use these tropes best? And can something fresh still be created based on such well-known patterns?

more

Izabela Górska
Nela Mańkowska

Location: Goyki Park

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17:00- 18:00
 
Cristian Teodorescu
București, marea speranță
leading: Agata Passent Drum bun!

Cristian Teodorescu

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

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17:00- 18:00
 
The Book Podcast Phenomenon
– How Audio Is Changing the Way
We Talk About Literature
leading: Karolina Kozłowska YOUNG ADULT BY THE BOOK

Have podcasts become a new space for literary discussion? Which books lend themselves best to the audio format? Why are we increasingly drawn to listening to people talk about literature?

Book podcasts are growing in popularity by blending a passion for reading with a format that allows for deeper conversations, reflection and discussion. Podcast hosts combine reviews, interviews and discussions to engage listeners and foster communities of book enthusiasts.

In this panel discussion, we will speak to the creators of some of Poland's most interesting literary podcasts. We will ask them about their work behind the scenes, the challenges they face and the ways in which podcasts are shaping reading habits today.

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Nikola Mańdok
Magdalena Adamus

Location: Goyki Park

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17:30- 18:30
 
Weronika Kostyrko
Róża Luksemburg.
Domem moim jest cały świat
leading: Bernadetta Darska h/History

Weronika Kostryko

Location: Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Savior in Sopot

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17:30- 18:30
 
Artur Domosławski
Rewolucja nie ma końca.
Podróże w krainie buntu i nadziei
leading: Dagny Kurdwanowska h/History

Artur Domosławski

Location: Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Savior in Sopot

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17:30- 18:30
 
Joanna Wilengowska
Król Warmii i Saturna
leading: Weronika Morawiec h/History

Joanna Wilengowska

Location: Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Savior in Sopot

View map ››
17:30- 18:30
 
Max Blecher:
Collected Works
leading: Georgina Gryboś Drum bun!

Joanna Kornaś-Warwas
Doris Mironescu

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

View map ››
18:00
 
A Short History of Alarms II
Exhibition Opening
ART BY THE BOOK

A Short History of Alarms II:

Andreea Anghel

Mixed media installation, 2025

 

The premise of the installation, 'A Short History of Alarms II', is that AI is arriving as a great equaliser when it comes to the concept of work — with many already losing work (and sleep) to something which is trumpeted as a solution to humanity's problems. Imagine we take a nostalgic look back at the timeline of work and its intrinsic, irreplaceable humanity, in an attempt to find a way forward.

Corporate postcapitalism appears to be fertile ground for an idea that was ironically spearheaded at the dawn of the computer age as a utopian force for good. Today, however, the fruits of one's labour are diminished day in, day out in the promised land of trickle-down economics.

We begin with primitive bipeds working together to secure food and settle down to build the first agrarian societies. The invention of reading and writing begat the process of documenting cognitive and emotional labour. We then move on to the Industrial Revolution and the inception of Keynesian economic concepts of labour, which were in opposition to Marxist ideology. Finally, we arrive at today's conundrum, where computers, which were once considered our companions, have suddenly become a possible means to an end.

The installation also functions as a small shrine where people can come to light a candle in mourning. As communities tend to come together to commemorate the transition of life to death, Anghel aims to provide a space where people can gather and share their grief, regrets and perhaps even hope for a better future.

Created for the 13th edition of the Sopot by the Book festival, the installation is part of the Goyki 3 Art Inkubator visual arts programme, which in 2025 is dedicated to exploring work in its social, economic, cultural, and geographical contexts.

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Andreea Anghel

Location: Goyki Park

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18:00- 19:00
 
Magdalena Ujma
Miniatures from the History of Art
leading: Anna Świtajska MISCELLANEA

Magdalena Ujma

Location: Smak Słowa Bookshop

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18:00- 19:30
 
Like One Nationalist to Another leading: Monika Płatek Drum bun! / Discussions
Partner of the event is the European Parliament

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Kazimierz Jurczak
Jarosław Tomasiewicz
Ovidiu Nahoi

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

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18:00
 
Staged reading
Disappearances
THEATRE BY THE BOOK
Staged reading of Disappearances by Elise Wilk (Polish trans. Joanna Kornaś-Warwas) | directed by Mira Mańka
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Mira Mańka

Location: Scena Kameralna at Wybrzeże Theatre

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18:00
 
What Words Can Do SOPOT BY THE BOOK 2026 PORTUGESE LANGUAGE EDITION

Dir. Luísa Sequeira, Luísa Marinho, Portugal 2022, 76 min.

A powerful documentary about the strength of literature, female solidarity, and resistance against oppression. The film tells the story of three women named Maria — the authors of New Portuguese Letters, a book that was immediately banned by the political police (PIDE), and for which the authors were put on trial for crimes against morality. Their courageous act sparked a wave of international protest and became a milestone in the feminist movement of the 20th century.

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Anna Działak Szubińska

Location: Goyki 3 Art Incubator

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18:00- 19:00
 
Niezłomni czy realiści?
Polskie podziemie
antykomunistyczne bez patosu
MARIAN TURSKI HISTORICAL AWARD FROM POLITYKA WEEKLY

Sławomir Poleszak
Rafał Wnuk

Location: Scena Kameralna at Wybrzeże Theatre

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18:30- 19:30
 
Jan Mazur
Simple Lines, Complex Issues
– The Comics of Jan Mazur
leading: Agnieszka Czoska ABOUT COMICS

Jan Mazur

Location: Goyki Park

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18:30- 19:30
 
Joking with Dragons:
On Humor in
Fantasy Literature
leading: Marcin Zwierzchowski ABOUT SF/FANTASY

Marta Kisiel
Łukasz Kucharczyk

Location: Goyki Park

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18:30- 19:30
 
Katarzyna Boni
Którędy do wyjścia?
leading: Magdalena Kicińska PREMIERE

Katarzyna Boni

Location: Goyki Park

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19:00
 
Animal
LUX Audience Award 2025
FILM BY THE BOOK
Partner of the event is the European Parliament

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Paweł Biliński

Location: Goyki 3 Art Incubator

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19:00- 20:30
 
Romania…
A Tree at the Crossroad
leading: Joanna Cichocka Gula Drum bun! / Discussions
Partner of the event is the European Parliament

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Adrian Cioroianu
Bogumił Luft
Radosława Janowska-Lascar

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

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19:00
 
Secret Trysts

Secret Trysts (Tajne Schadzki) is a book club designed for singles, solos, and the non-booked. Created by the Filomatki and Filaretki duo, this unique format—usually held at Tajne Komplety in Gdańsk—consists of several rounds of small-group discussions, with rotating participants to encourage everyone to meet as many new people as possible. Each meeting revolves around books that tackle significant socio-existential themes, sparking emotions that foster both romantic and friendly relationships.

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Daria Lewicka i Jola Ronowska

Location: Dwie Zmiany Cafe

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19:00
 
Staged Reading
Stop the tempo
Drum bun! / THEATRE BY THE BOOK
Staged Reading of Stop the Tempo by Gianina Cărbunariu (Polish trans. Radosława Janowska-Lascar) | directed by Piotr Jankowski
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Piotr Jankowski

Location: Goyki Park

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19:00- 21:00
 
Festival Book Club

The Sopot by the Book Festival offers a fantastic opportunity to meet authors from Poland and abroad, as well as well-known literary figures. But the reading club is designed to put readers themselves in the spotlight—creating space for them to connect with each other.

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Daria Lewicka i Jola Ronowska

Location: Dwie Zmiany Café

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19:00- 20:00
 
Bogdan-Alexandru Stănescu
Abraxas
leading: Michał Nogaś Drum bun!

Bogdan-Alexandru Stănescu

Location: National Gallery of Art in Sopot

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20:00
 
Reconstruction FILM BY THE BOOK

dir. Lucian Pintilie, Romania 1968, 106 min.

One of the most important works in Romanian cinema, Reconstruction delivers a powerful critique of totalitarian reality. It tells the story of two young men who, after a drunken brawl, are forced to reenact their actions on camera as part of a “preventive” reconstruction. What starts as a seemingly straightforward staging quickly transforms into a harrowing exploration of power and manipulation. With its New Wave language and modernist form, Reconstruction remains a strikingly relevant and emotionally resonant film.

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Paweł Biliński

Location: Goyki 3 Art Incubator

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20:00
 
The Death of Mr. Lazarescu FILM BY THE BOOK

dir. Cristi Puiu, Romania 2005, 150 min.

This landmark film marked the beginning of the Romanian New Wave and remains one of its most important works. It follows an elderly man who calls an ambulance one night and embarks on a dramatic journey through various hospitals, where bureaucracy and indifference gradually seal his fate. With its hypnotic realism and austere aesthetic, the film offers a piercing critique of the healthcare system and a haunting portrait of human isolation.

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Paweł Biliński

Location: Goyki 3 Art Incubator

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20:00
 
Crulic: The Path to Beyond FILM BY THE BOOK

dir. Anca Damian, Romania, Poland 2011, 73 min.

A moving animated film based on the true story of Claudiu Crulic, a Romanian man wrongly accused of theft in Poland. The film retraces his desperate struggle against the justice system, which ultimately led to his tragic death in prison. Its unique visual style and evocative narration make this Polish-Romanian co-production not only a gripping account of individual helplessness in the face of bureaucracy, but also a powerful statement on human rights.

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Paweł Biliński

Location: Goyki 3 Art Incubator

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20:00
 
I Do Not Care
If We Go Down in History
as Barbarians
FILM BY THE BOOK

dir. Radu Jude, Romania, Germany, Bulgaria, France, Czech Republic 2018, 140 min.

In this provocative film, Radu Jude confronts the painful truths of Romania’s past. The protagonist, a young theatre director, prepares a historical reenactment of the massacre of thousands of Jews, leading to a fierce clash with national myths and mechanisms of denial.

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Paweł Biliński

Location: Goyki 3 Art Incubator

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20:30
 
Quiz by The Book leading: Małgorzata Muraszko

A literary festival is not just about meeting writers or talking about books. Any festival is also about having fun. And if we know a thing or two about fun, it's that it means a literary pub quiz! It can be a great opportunity to test your knowledge of literature, but above all it will help you soak up the atmosphere of Sopot by the Book!

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Location: 3siostry café

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WORKSHOPS BY THE BOOK

11:00- 14:00
 
Bringing Characters to Life:
How to Create Multi-Dimensional
Literary Personalities
leading: Agnieszka Kruk
Discover practical tools for creating complex, psychologically credible characters that will bring your story to life and stay in the reader’s memory. One of the most common storytelling pitfalls is a main character who simply isn’t compelling enough. In this workshop, you’ll learn proven techniques for creating multidimensional literary characters that move and fascinate from the very first page. Agnieszka Kruk – an internationally working screenwriter and script development expert – will show you how to create characters whose personalities reveal themselves primarily through action, in line with Aristotle’s principle. Combining theory with hands-on practice, the workshop focuses on specific tools that will immediately elevate the quality of your character creation. You’ll learn how to introduce characters through action, how to build their goals, motivations, and conflicts, as well as an engaging path of development.

The workshop will cover key topics such as:

  • Character types: protagonist, antagonist, mentor, and others – and their roles in storytelling
  • Practical methods for forging a strong bond between reader and character through identification and fascination
  • The character interview technique – uncovering your character’s deepest desires and motivations
As well as several more advanced techniques:
  • The character diamond method – building a character readers can like, admire, and yet see flaws and hidden secrets in
  • The P-P-P technique – a simple method for introducing information about a character
  • The GMCD and T-E-R-A-Z methods – T-E-R-A-Z being the host’s original method – dynamic and effective tools for constructing believable chains of character-driven actions
Throughout the session, the instructor will answer questions about the creative process and share insights from her experience in the audiovisual industry.
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SOPOT BY THE BOOK FOR KIDS

11:00- 12:30
 
The World Turned Upside Down:
What If Things Were Different?

host: Marta Jankowska (Creative Pedagogy)

 
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13:00
 
The Goat with the Bell Workshops with Miniteka

leading: Joanna Kujawska-Frejlich, Agata Walińska

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SOPOT BY THE BOOK FOR KIDS

11:00- 12:30
 
Little Fears,
Big Discoveries

host: Marta Jankowska (Creative Pedagogy)

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13:00
 
Fet Frumos and
the Twelve Princesses
Workshops with Miniteka

leading: Joanna Kujawska-Frejlich, Agata Walińska

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WORKSHOPS BY THE BOOK

12:00- 14:00
 
Make a Notebook!
Printing and Binding
Workshop

Join us for an intensive, hands-on workshop where you will design and create your own unique notebook! You will learn the screen printing technique and use it to design and print a cover, choosing from a selection of graphic designs. Then, the covers will be bound to a set of ready-made pages to create a complete, functional notebook.

The workshop lasts about 30 minutes and is held in small groups. It’s a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience of the basics of screen printing and bookbinding, learn how notebook and book covers are made and take home a unique, handmade item.

Who is it for? Teenagers and adults — no prior experience necessary.

Duration: approx. 30 minutes

We provide all materials, tools and expert guidance from the instructors.

Your very own unique notebook is waiting for your ideas!

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Karina Lewandowska
Przemysław Konopacki

SOPOT BY THE BOOK FOR KIDS

11:00- 12:30
 
Parents’ Book Club:
Childhood Fear, Adult Fear

Leading: Joanna Trzaska, psycholożka, psychoterapeutka

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11:00- 12:30
 
On the Beauty
of Imperfection

host: Marta Jankowska (Creative Pedagogy)

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13:00
 
The Purse with
Coppers Two
Workshops with Miniteka

leading: Joanna Kujawska-Frejlich, Agata Walińska

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LITERARY GAME

11:00- 16:00
 
The Extraordinary Sources
of Brother Makarius
Partner of the event is the European Parliament

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WORKSHOPS BY THE BOOK

11:00- 14:00
 
Turning Prose into Script
– a workshop on adapting
literature for the screen
leading: Agnieszka Kruk
Adaptation is a unique form of creative translation—one that requires both respect for the original work and a deep understanding of the specific demands of the film and TV mediums. This workshop offers an introduction to the fascinating process of transferring a story from one form of expression to another. Agnieszka Kruk, an experienced screenwriter from StoryLab.pro, will demonstrate how to uncover the cinematic potential in literary texts and translate it into the language of screenwriting. You’ll learn not only the basics of a screenplay format, but more importantly, a clear methodology for the adaptation process—from analysing the source material and identifying its key dramatic elements to effectively planning your workflow. You’ll also discover a secret tool that helps organize literary material before you even begin writing—a real game-changer in adaptation work.

Workshop topics include:  

  • the foundations of screen adaptation – key differences between literary and screen texts
  • the seven essential elements of a successful adaptation
  • a powerful structuring tool for organizing literary material before writing (a unique planning method to help tame the chaos of your source text)
  • practical aspects of creating a treatment or series bible based on literary material
  The instructor will also answer questions about the audiovisual industry, sharing insights into screenwriting competitions, how to connect with production companies, and the realities of working as a screenwriter in Poland. She’ll walk you through the journey from concept to production and discuss current trends in literary adaptations.
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SOPOT BY THE BOOK FOR KIDS

11:00- 12:30
 
Parents’ Book Club:
Why and How It’s Worth
Talking About Emotions

Leading: Joanna Trzaska, psycholożka, psychoterapeutka

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11:00- 12:30
 
Sleepy Dream-spirations

host: Marta Jankowska (Creative Pedagogy)

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13:00
 
At Dracula’s Castle Workshops with Miniteka
leading: Joanna Kujawska-Frejlich, Agata Walińska
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