events

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!

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!

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!

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!

During the course of the festival, visitors will be afforded the opportunity to view two works by Estonian artist Flo Kasearu, which have been temporarily located in the park at 3 Goyki Street. The piece entitled Soap for a Lifetime (2023) makes a direct reference to the artist's family home in Tallinn, where she has been running the Flo Kasearu House museum for a period of 11 years. This live, site-specific installation addresses a number of key issues, including questions of ownership, gentrification, institutional hierarchy and the artist's ability to navigate her work within this framework. The Sopot installation replicates the architectural and stylistic features of the museum, offering visitors insight into the concerns, challenges, and joys of the house's owner. These include issues such as flooding, a lifetime supply of soap for the artist's sauna, and problems associated with a leaking roof. The work draws on the tradition of artists' house-workshop-museums in the Baltic region.

The second work to be installed in the park is entitled Landscape Painting (2013) and depicts a tsunami wave on a large-format banner. The placement of the work between the trees, yet in close proximity to the villa, creates the illusion of immersion in a natural environment. The work serves as a reminder of the increasing absence of nature in the context of accelerating human activity and the potential dangers and disasters that result from an imbalance between the two. In the context of 2024 and Sopot, the work gains another layer of meaning, namely the threat from the East (the escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine), a topic that is widely discussed in both Poland and Estonia.

A home for a lifetime, daily care, guests and residents of lands and spaces. The sea view is an additional benefit, both in terms of aesthetic appeal and economic value.

The involvement of Estonian artist Flo Kasearu in the Sopot by the Book Festival is based on the centrality of themes related to hospitality and care in the artist's oeuvre. These concepts are of fundamental importance in the conceptualisation of the visual arts programme of Goyki 3 Art Incubator for the year 2024.

During the course of the festival, visitors will be afforded the opportunity to view two works by Estonian artist Flo Kasearu, which have been temporarily located in the park at 3 Goyki Street. The piece entitled Soap for a Lifetime (2023) makes a direct reference to the artist's family home in Tallinn, where she has been running the Flo Kasearu House museum for a period of 11 years. This live, site-specific installation addresses a number of key issues, including questions of ownership, gentrification, institutional hierarchy and the artist's ability to navigate her work within this framework. The Sopot installation replicates the architectural and stylistic features of the museum, offering visitors insight into the concerns, challenges, and joys of the house's owner. These include issues such as flooding, a lifetime supply of soap for the artist's sauna, and problems associated with a leaking roof. The work draws on the tradition of artists' house-workshop-museums in the Baltic region.

The second work to be installed in the park is entitled Landscape Painting (2013) and depicts a tsunami wave on a large-format banner. The placement of the work between the trees, yet in close proximity to the villa, creates the illusion of immersion in a natural environment. The work serves as a reminder of the increasing absence of nature in the context of accelerating human activity and the potential dangers and disasters that result from an imbalance between the two. In the context of 2024 and Sopot, the work gains another layer of meaning, namely the threat from the East (the escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine), a topic that is widely discussed in both Poland and Estonia.

A home for a lifetime, daily care, guests and residents of lands and spaces. The sea view is an additional benefit, both in terms of aesthetic appeal and economic value.

The involvement of Estonian artist Flo Kasearu in the Sopot by the Book Festival is based on the centrality of themes related to hospitality and care in the artist's oeuvre. These concepts are of fundamental importance in the conceptualisation of the visual arts programme of Goyki 3 Art Incubator for the year 2024.

During the course of the festival, visitors will be afforded the opportunity to view two works by Estonian artist Flo Kasearu, which have been temporarily located in the park at 3 Goyki Street. The piece entitled Soap for a Lifetime (2023) makes a direct reference to the artist's family home in Tallinn, where she has been running the Flo Kasearu House museum for a period of 11 years. This live, site-specific installation addresses a number of key issues, including questions of ownership, gentrification, institutional hierarchy and the artist's ability to navigate her work within this framework. The Sopot installation replicates the architectural and stylistic features of the museum, offering visitors insight into the concerns, challenges, and joys of the house's owner. These include issues such as flooding, a lifetime supply of soap for the artist's sauna, and problems associated with a leaking roof. The work draws on the tradition of artists' house-workshop-museums in the Baltic region.

The second work to be installed in the park is entitled Landscape Painting (2013) and depicts a tsunami wave on a large-format banner. The placement of the work between the trees, yet in close proximity to the villa, creates the illusion of immersion in a natural environment. The work serves as a reminder of the increasing absence of nature in the context of accelerating human activity and the potential dangers and disasters that result from an imbalance between the two. In the context of 2024 and Sopot, the work gains another layer of meaning, namely the threat from the East (the escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine), a topic that is widely discussed in both Poland and Estonia.

A home for a lifetime, daily care, guests and residents of lands and spaces. The sea view is an additional benefit, both in terms of aesthetic appeal and economic value.

The involvement of Estonian artist Flo Kasearu in the Sopot by the Book Festival is based on the centrality of themes related to hospitality and care in the artist's oeuvre. These concepts are of fundamental importance in the conceptualisation of the visual arts programme of Goyki 3 Art Incubator for the year 2024.

During the course of the festival, visitors will be afforded the opportunity to view two works by Estonian artist Flo Kasearu, which have been temporarily located in the park at 3 Goyki Street. The piece entitled Soap for a Lifetime (2023) makes a direct reference to the artist's family home in Tallinn, where she has been running the Flo Kasearu House museum for a period of 11 years. This live, site-specific installation addresses a number of key issues, including questions of ownership, gentrification, institutional hierarchy and the artist's ability to navigate her work within this framework. The Sopot installation replicates the architectural and stylistic features of the museum, offering visitors insight into the concerns, challenges, and joys of the house's owner. These include issues such as flooding, a lifetime supply of soap for the artist's sauna, and problems associated with a leaking roof. The work draws on the tradition of artists' house-workshop-museums in the Baltic region.

The second work to be installed in the park is entitled Landscape Painting (2013) and depicts a tsunami wave on a large-format banner. The placement of the work between the trees, yet in close proximity to the villa, creates the illusion of immersion in a natural environment. The work serves as a reminder of the increasing absence of nature in the context of accelerating human activity and the potential dangers and disasters that result from an imbalance between the two. In the context of 2024 and Sopot, the work gains another layer of meaning, namely the threat from the East (the escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine), a topic that is widely discussed in both Poland and Estonia.

A home for a lifetime, daily care, guests and residents of lands and spaces. The sea view is an additional benefit, both in terms of aesthetic appeal and economic value.

The involvement of Estonian artist Flo Kasearu in the Sopot by the Book Festival is based on the centrality of themes related to hospitality and care in the artist's oeuvre. These concepts are of fundamental importance in the conceptualisation of the visual arts programme of Goyki 3 Art Incubator for the year 2024.

• Goyki 3 Art Inkubator
• Muzeum Sopotu/ Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna
• Wydawnictwo Afera
• Wydawnictwo Agora
• Wydawnictwo Akapit Press
• Wydawnictwo BOSZ
• Wydawnictwo Czarne
• Wydawnictwo Części Proste
• Wydawnictwo CzuCzu
• Wydawnictwo Drzazgi,
• Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry
• Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne
• Wydawnictwo Kameleon
• Wydawnictwo Krytyka Polityczna
• Wydawnictwo Książkowe Klimaty
• Wydawnictwo Literackie
• Wydawnictwo Marginesy
• Wydawnictwo Marpress
• Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury
• Wydawnictwo Nasza Księgarnia
• Wydawnictwo Nisza
• Wydawnictwo Ossolineum
• Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego
• Wydawnictwo Pauza
• Wydawnictwo Poznańskie
• Wydawnictwo Relacja
• Wydawnictwo słowo/obraz terytoria
• Wydawnictwo Smak Słowa
• Wydawnictwo Sonia Draga/ Wydawnictwo Debit
• Wydawnictwo Wielka Litera
• Społeczny Instytut Wydawniczy Znak
• Świadomi Wydawcy
• TU SIĘ CZYTA  (Buka, Format, Tako, Albus. Druganoga)
• Wydawnictwo Zakamarki

Join us for a fascinating walk along Gdańsk Bay Beach, guided by marine biologist Tomasz Kijewski from the Institute of Oceanography at the Polish Academy of Sciences. During this event, we’ll delve into the state of the Baltic Sea and explore predictions regarding changes in the marine environment due to human impact.

Agenda:

Talk on the Baltic Sea: Tomasz Kijewski will provide insights into the current state of the Baltic Sea, highlighting both its challenges and opportunities.

Discussion on Practices: Participants will engage in discussions about good and bad practices affecting the Baltic Sea and the marine environment in general.

Hands-On Exploration: The practical part of the meeting involves dragging the shallow seabed to discover and observe marine life. Participants will have the chance to put on waders and walk into the water, collecting samples of small animals and algae.

Come prepared for an educational and enjoyable experience by the sea!

• Goyki 3 Art Inkubator
• Muzeum Sopotu/ Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna
• Wydawnictwo Afera
• Wydawnictwo Agora
• Wydawnictwo Akapit Press
• Wydawnictwo BOSZ
• Wydawnictwo Czarne
• Wydawnictwo Części Proste
• Wydawnictwo CzuCzu
• Wydawnictwo Drzazgi,
• Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry
• Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne
• Wydawnictwo Kameleon
• Wydawnictwo Krytyka Polityczna
• Wydawnictwo Książkowe Klimaty
• Wydawnictwo Literackie
• Wydawnictwo Marginesy
• Wydawnictwo Marpress
• Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury
• Wydawnictwo Nasza Księgarnia
• Wydawnictwo Nisza
• Wydawnictwo Ossolineum
• Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego
• Wydawnictwo Pauza
• Wydawnictwo Poznańskie
• Wydawnictwo Relacja
• Wydawnictwo słowo/obraz terytoria
• Wydawnictwo Smak Słowa
• Wydawnictwo Sonia Draga/ Wydawnictwo Debit
• Wydawnictwo Wielka Litera
• Społeczny Instytut Wydawniczy Znak
• Świadomi Wydawcy
• TU SIĘ CZYTA  (Buka, Format, Tako, Albus. Druganoga)
• Wydawnictwo Zakamarki

Move your legs and arms, look around tracking words. Ask yourself where what cannot be written is now. Try to step outside yourself – beyond your existence. Bend your tongue to dress intuitions in words. Use your senses, engage taste, smell, touch, sight, hearing, muscles. Use your imagination to penetrate the fabric of the city, the body of the forest, the skeleton of a fish, or the shape of the sea waves.

You are welcome to take a walk with me and observe non-verbal manifestations of existence. During the walk, at five stops, I will carry out exercises in (non)writing, focusing on penetrating the surroundings with imagination (and also with the help of various senses).

• Goyki 3 Art Inkubator
• Muzeum Sopotu/ Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna
• Wydawnictwo Afera
• Wydawnictwo Agora
• Wydawnictwo Akapit Press
• Wydawnictwo BOSZ
• Wydawnictwo Czarne
• Wydawnictwo Części Proste
• Wydawnictwo CzuCzu
• Wydawnictwo Drzazgi,
• Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry
• Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne
• Wydawnictwo Kameleon
• Wydawnictwo Krytyka Polityczna
• Wydawnictwo Książkowe Klimaty
• Wydawnictwo Literackie
• Wydawnictwo Marginesy
• Wydawnictwo Marpress
• Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury
• Wydawnictwo Nasza Księgarnia
• Wydawnictwo Nisza
• Wydawnictwo Ossolineum
• Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego
• Wydawnictwo Pauza
• Wydawnictwo Poznańskie
• Wydawnictwo Relacja
• Wydawnictwo słowo/obraz terytoria
• Wydawnictwo Smak Słowa
• Wydawnictwo Sonia Draga/ Wydawnictwo Debit
• Wydawnictwo Wielka Litera
• Społeczny Instytut Wydawniczy Znak
• Świadomi Wydawcy
• TU SIĘ CZYTA  (Buka, Format, Tako, Albus. Druganoga)
• Wydawnictwo Zakamarki

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. – Maciej Studencki, Paulina Eryka Masa
12:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Maciej Studencki, Paulina Eryka Masa
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Martyna Tomczak, Marta Piotrowicz-Kendzia
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Martyna Tomczak, Martyna M. Lemańczyk
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Tomasz S. Gałązka, Martyna M. Lemańczyk
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Tomasz S. Gałązka, Maciej Studencki, Zuzanna Zywert

• Goyki 3 Art Inkubator
• Muzeum Sopotu/ Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna
• Wydawnictwo Afera
• Wydawnictwo Agora
• Wydawnictwo Akapit Press
• Wydawnictwo BOSZ
• Wydawnictwo Czarne
• Wydawnictwo Części Proste
• Wydawnictwo CzuCzu
• Wydawnictwo Drzazgi,
• Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry
• Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne
• Wydawnictwo Kameleon
• Wydawnictwo Krytyka Polityczna
• Wydawnictwo Książkowe Klimaty
• Wydawnictwo Literackie
• Wydawnictwo Marginesy
• Wydawnictwo Marpress
• Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury
• Wydawnictwo Nasza Księgarnia
• Wydawnictwo Nisza
• Wydawnictwo Ossolineum
• Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego
• Wydawnictwo Pauza
• Wydawnictwo Poznańskie
• Wydawnictwo Relacja
• Wydawnictwo słowo/obraz terytoria
• Wydawnictwo Smak Słowa
• Wydawnictwo Sonia Draga/ Wydawnictwo Debit
• Wydawnictwo Wielka Litera
• Społeczny Instytut Wydawniczy Znak
• Świadomi Wydawcy
• TU SIĘ CZYTA  (Buka, Format, Tako, Albus. Druganoga)
• Wydawnictwo Zakamarki

Walking route:

Starting point: Goyki 3 Art Incubator (Jüncke's villa) - park around the estate (library) - former orangery - former Dolinny Młyn restaurant, surroundings of the Dolinny Młyn culvert under the tracks - valley of the Babidolski Stream - Sopot Stronghold area - Młyńska Street (former Paper Mill) - 100 Haffnera Street (Kronprinz villa) - Admirał Manor House - former Swimming School - Villa Halina - Miss Teltmer's Manor House (Wosia Budzysza street) – Northern Baths - sailors' monument - end of the walk

We would like to begin our walk at the Goyki 3 Art Incubator, the former residence of Wilhelm Jüncke. It is situated in a magnificent park, which we will have the opportunity to explore during the hike. The route will include the former Dolinny Młyn restaurant, which was once a popular vantage point crowded with visitors to the resort, the picturesque valley of the Babidolski stream in its lower reaches, the renovated former paper mill, the villa that the Sopot City Council donated before World War I to the heir to the Prussian throne, and Villa Halina, the former first-class Polish guesthouse in Sopot. As we continue along the route, we will have the opportunity to view the former Miss Teltmer's Manor House, which was previously the headquarters of the University of Gdansk's political science department and is now home to luxury apartments. We will also pass by the Northern Baths and the sailors' monument, which was originally erected to honour aviators.

The debate will highlight remarkable female authors who thrived outside the renowned Parisian salons of Gertrude Stein and Colette, as well as the Bloomsbury group founded in London by Virginia Woolf. Justyna Czechowska, who will host the debate, introduces it as follows: "We will discuss the bestselling novels of Selma Lagerlöf and Sally Salminen, the poetry of Edith Södergran, and the female writers from the banks of the Nemunas, all of whom became milestones of modernist literature." The debate will be interpreted into Polish Sign Language.

Partner of the event:

A conversation around the book Przy rodzicach nie parlować. O polskich powrotach z Francji (Czarne Publishing House) will be translated into Polish sign language.

Partner of the event:

Language is a living entity—it evolves, adapts, and names new facets of life. How do we reflect these changes in translation? To what extent must translators and publishers stay attuned to social transformations? And how can literature shape attitudes and impact reality?

Author and journalist Dagny Kurdwanowska will explore these questions focusing on the language of diversity, inclusion, and social solidarity with Aga Zano, translator and member of the Polish Literary Translators Association; Jacek Giszczak, Polish language scholar and translator; and Filip Fierk, editor and co-founder of Drzazgi Publishing House. This debate on inclusive language will be interpreted into Polish Sign Language.

Directed by Carla Teahy (2023)

With richly personal stories shared by Nora Iuga herself, this intimate documentary explores the beloved Romanian author’s fascinating world of which we can all learn the secret of always staying young.

Partner of the event:

During the course of the festival, visitors will be afforded the opportunity to view two works by Estonian artist Flo Kasearu, which have been temporarily located in the park at 3 Goyki Street. The piece entitled Soap for a Lifetime (2023) makes a direct reference to the artist's family home in Tallinn, where she has been running the Flo Kasearu House museum for a period of 11 years. This live, site-specific installation addresses a number of key issues, including questions of ownership, gentrification, institutional hierarchy and the artist's ability to navigate her work within this framework. The Sopot installation replicates the architectural and stylistic features of the museum, offering visitors insight into the concerns, challenges, and joys of the house's owner. These include issues such as flooding, a lifetime supply of soap for the artist's sauna, and problems associated with a leaking roof. The work draws on the tradition of artists' house-workshop-museums in the Baltic region.

The second work to be installed in the park is entitled Landscape Painting (2013) and depicts a tsunami wave on a large-format banner. The placement of the work between the trees, yet in close proximity to the villa, creates the illusion of immersion in a natural environment. The work serves as a reminder of the increasing absence of nature in the context of accelerating human activity and the potential dangers and disasters that result from an imbalance between the two. In the context of 2024 and Sopot, the work gains another layer of meaning, namely the threat from the East (the escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine), a topic that is widely discussed in both Poland and Estonia.

A home for a lifetime, daily care, guests and residents of lands and spaces. The sea view is an additional benefit, both in terms of aesthetic appeal and economic value.

The involvement of Estonian artist Flo Kasearu in the Sopot by the Book Festival is based on the centrality of themes related to hospitality and care in the artist's oeuvre. These concepts are of fundamental importance in the conceptualisation of the visual arts programme of Goyki 3 Art Incubator for the year 2024.

Hilma af Klint (1862-1944) Swedish painter, abstractionist. A great artist who has been under-appreciated over the years, she is now considered the first abstractionist, active long before Kandinsky, Mondriani and Malevich, considered the great trinity and inventors of abstract art. She was not only a working artist, but also a declared clairvoyant and mystic.

The series presents profiles of great Polish and foreign women painters. Women in art are still not given enough prominence, and indeed are often erased from it. Little has changed since the founding of the British Royal Academy in 1768, which did include two female painters, Angelika Kauffman and Mary Moser, but neither one nor the other is shown in the collective portrait of the members of the Royal Academy by Johann Zoffany alongside the other founding members. Their images are found in portraits hanging on the wall behind the models' podium, but this makes them objects of art rather than its creators. It was not until 1922 that more women were admitted to the Academy. The exclusion to which female artists have been subjected for centuries has caused art to be perceived from a male perspective. We want to restore the importance and rightful place of talented women who are still little known and unrecognised due to social prejudices.

Join us for a staged reading of Revolution. Om at smadre tiden by Christian Lollike (translated into Polish by Paweł Partyka), directed by Lena Frankiewicz. Danish playwright Christian Lollike reflects contemporary reality through a distorted mirror. His text confronts the pressing issues of our time: the erosion of democratic values, rising nationalist sentiments, the worsening climate crisis, and aggressive xenophobia fueled by the influx of refugees. Against these challenges, the grey and impersonal representatives of the Western capitalist and consumerist world appear utterly powerless.

dance, choreography: Anna Steller

live music: Adam Witkowski

direction, light: Lena Frankiewicz

video: Mateusz Zieliński

cast: Dorota Androsz, Krzysztof Matuszewski, Paweł Pogorzałek, Piotr Srebrowski

The discussion—or rather the encounter—with the Cassandra Project will be an unforgettable experience. The Cassandra Science Project aims to identify global crises early on through literary analysis. The authors understand that global conflicts and major trends emerge from words, treating books as glimpses into the future. Who might feel threatened by such analysis and interpretation? How does the study of texts contribute to world politics? This debate will be translated into Polish Sign Language.

Anna Dudzińska is the author of the new audio series produced by the Pismo magazine: The Sami: Scandinavia's Guilty Conscience

They were forbidden to speak their language. They were banned from singing, playing drums, and wearing traditional headgear. They were humiliated, spat on, and called names. They were forcibly evicted from their homes, and stripped of their land, and entire families were relocated hundreds of kilometers away. Children were sent to boarding schools to learn in a language they did not know. They had their naked pictures taken, their skulls measured, and their ancestors' bones dug up from cemeteries and examined. All to become Norwegians, Swedes, or Finns.

Listen to the stories of the last indigenous inhabitants of Europe—the Sami, contemptuously called the Lapps. Hear about people who are still fighting for their identity in countries that are considered paragons of tolerance, openness, and democratic values.

First episode premiere: 29 August 2024.

Production: Pismo Foundation

Partner of the event:

In the Baltic region, as in the entirety of Central and Eastern Europe, history and politics have frequently posed threats to national languages and shaped processes that undermine the distinct identities of individual countries. Therefore, one of the key topics of the discussion will be the strategies that Lithuania, Latvia, and Finland have adopted to preserve their native languages.

Partner of the event:
 

Writers often find themselves caught between two conflicting ideals. On one side, there’s the romantic myth of the suffering artist, who should remain unconcerned with financial matters. On the other side, the reality of the literary market reveals that writers are among the least legally protected professionals. Yet, without writers, there would be no publishing houses, bookstores, libraries, or audiobooks.

Recognizing this imbalance, the Literary Union, in collaboration with the Polish Literary Translators Association and other organizations, is advocating for crucial reforms. These include updating systems related to royalties from library loans and fair compensation for online reproductions, ensuring writers receive the remuneration they deserve

Tajne Schadzki (Secret Trysts) is a book club designed for singles, solos and non-booked. Developed by Filomatki i Filaretki (Philomaths and Philarets), this format is typically hosted at the Tajne Komplety bookshop in Gdansk. The gatherings consist of multiple rounds of discussion in small, rotating groups, facilitating opportunities for participants to get acquainted. Each meeting revolves around books that tackle significant socio-existential themes, stirring emotions that foster both romantic and friendly relationships.

Philomaths and Philarets, represented by Daria Lewicka and Jola Ronowska, are the spirited organizers—close friends and Polish language teachers who excel in bringing people together through literature. These two girls, hailing from small villages and graduates of Nicolaus Copernicus University and the University of Gdansk, understand the power of books to create connections.

The upcoming discussion will focus on Maciej Jakubowiak's book Hanka. Opowieść o awansie.

Registration opens on 1 August - SIGN UP HERE, with a participation fee of PLN 25. Each attendee will receive a token for use at the bar during the event.

With kind permission of S. Fischer Verlag.

Directed by Šarūnas Bartas (1997), France, Lithuania, Portugal 1997, 120 min.

A film by one of the most prominent representatives of the new generation of Lithuanian filmmakers, who has gained considerable recognition in the West. The film presents a journey through the rooms of a real building, and simultaneously through time and memory, through the subconscious of a young man. It employs a diverse array of cultural symbols, archetypes, memories, real and imagined events, intuitions, dreams, premonitions, and faces.

Directed by Laila Pakalniņa (2015), Latvia, Estonia, Poland, 90 min.

The film, which was a Latvian Oscar nominee in 2017, is based on the story of Pavlik Morozov, who, after his death, was made a patron of the pioneer movement and a role model for children in the USSR by Stalinist propaganda. The film's main character is 10-year-old Janis. He is a pioneer and lives in a kolkhoz called Dawn in what is now Latvia. His father is an enemy of the kolkhoz (and the Soviet system) and intends to burn down the head office. Little Janis turns his father in to the militia, for which his father takes revenge by killing the boy.

Directed by Veiko Õunpuu (2007), Estonia, 123 min.

Autumn Ball is the feature debut of Estonian director Veiko Õunpuu. It premiered in 2007 at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the award for best film of the Horizons section. The film tells the story of six people living in one block of flats in Tallinn, who face loneliness, alienation, and the inability to connect with others.

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!

Family reading of excerpts from the book Piia Präänik kolib sisse by Kairi Look (Polish transl. Marta Perlikiewicz) followed by a workshop.

host: Marta Jankowska (Creative Pedagogy)

Pia Präänik is an energetic and curious little girl invented by Estonian writer Kairi Look. When she moves with her parents to a new house, she meets a host of diverse characters and discovers the magical side of life. During the workshop, you will learn about her adventures and reflect together on what is difficult and what is good about change.

The event will be hosted by Marta Jankowska - an exceptional teacher, and one of the leaders of the Gdańsk Creative Pedagogy programme, which brings together teachers seeking innovative solutions. Her daily work is also in the office of the Education for Culture. Gdańsk programme.

host: Joanna Kujawska-Frejlich, Agata Walińska (Miniteka)

An adventure in the park? Why not! Anything can happen with Pippi. Discover her amusing adventures by listening to her stories. In this workshop, you will create the main character using cardboard elements. You'll dress her up in colorful dresses and socks, of course. Let's fill our park with vibrant colors and joyful antics.

This workshop is inspired by Astrid Lindgren's book Pippi Longstocking in the Park.

Sopot, summer, the sea, Sopot by the Book, festival memories, impressions from meetings and books read. What is the best place to write them down? How about a handmade journal?

During the workshops, participants will learn the basic concepts, materials, and tools used in bookbinding. They will design and assemble a sewn and glued hardcover notebook on their own. All of this inspired by the seaside resort, the colours of summer, and the Sopot by the Book Festival!

Family reading of excerpts from the book Onu Mati, loomaarst by Priit Põhjala (Polish transl. Anna Michalczuk-Podlecki) followed by a workshop.

Host: Marta Jankowska (Creative Pedagogy)

Dr. Mati is a veterinarian at the zoo. Known for his somewhat absent-minded nature, he finds himself in many funny and absurd adventures. The animals in the book by Estonian author Priit Põhjala have unique personalities and pursuits. Have you ever wondered which animal you would be? Which one matches your personality and temperament?

The event will be hosted by Marta Jankowska, an exceptional teacher and one of the leaders of the Gdańsk Creative Pedagogy programme, which brings together teachers in search of innovative solutions. She also works at the Education for Culture. Gdańsk programme office.

host: Joanna Kujawska-Frejlich, Agata Walińska (Miniteka)

This workshop will be colourful and non-stereotypical, inspired by a certain bunny and his long neighbour from Kęstutis Kasparavičius's book. Together, we'll create a long, colorful, happy snake, reminding us that appearances can be deceiving.

This workshop is inspired by the book Kaimynė už kampo by Kęstutis Kasparavičius.

Oh no! Perkun's wrath has unleashed a plague over the Baltic Sea! The good news is that there is a way to find rescue. All you have to do is embark on a journey around the Baltic in search of a magical oak branch that will appease the angry god of storms and war. But be warned, participants will need to locate the mythical land of the Baltic deities, but first, they must navigate a coastal course filled with tasks and challenges.

The route begins by heading towards Denmark, where we'll help a little girl who sells matches and look for a real princess with the help of pea grains. Once you've finished your Danish trials, your compass will lead you to a lovely little Swedish town called Bullerbyn. Once we've solved the puzzles there, we'll be able to venture further into the remote valley where the Moomins live. We'll need to be super careful though, because we don't want to run into the Groke! As we near the end of our journey, we'll need to think of a way to outsmart the Estonian Kratt. Once we've done that, we'll be able to reach the land of the Balts, where many Baltic deities live. Our final task is to find Perkun and show him some love with a magic oak tree.

At each stop on the map, we'll visit new countries along the Baltic Sea. We'll immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of each region and explore the works of authors such as H.C. Andersen, Astrid Lindgren, and Tove Jansson, as well as Baltic legends and myths. This journey will be filled with amusing stories and moments of reflection.

The workshop will discuss the basic problems of translating literature for the youngest - issues of translating word games, humour and proper names, as well as the concepts of exoticisation, domestication, equivalence, explicitation and implicitation. Participants will work on specific excerpts from texts that they will receive from the host before the workshop. During the workshop they will jointly make a comparative analysis of selected existing Polish translations with their Danish originals. Based on the latest works of Danish children's and youth literature, they will independently look for specific solutions and translation strategies. Knowledge of the Danish language is required.

The workshops will be conducted by Zuzanna Zywert – a translator of Danish literature, a graduate in Danish philology from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, cultural studies at Aarhus Universitet, and postgraduate studies in literary translation at the University of Gdańsk. She specializes in translating contemporary Danish prose and children's and youth literature, and also teaches Danish at a language school. She lives in Copenhagen.

Keinulauta - a book by Timo Parvela (Polish transl. Iwonia Kiuru) will be read by Magdalena Bednarek, a Miniature Theatre actor.

The reading will be followed by a workshop inspired by the book.

• How to Look After Family Relationships – workshop for adults | host: Joanna Trzaska (psychologist, psychotherapist)
• A Recipe for Building Relationships – workshop for children | host: Izabela Banaszczyk (child psychologist, Creative Pedagogy)

In the book by Finnish author Timo Parvela, a little bear named Pi tries to use a seesaw, but it's not quite possible when you're alone. However, when someone finally comes along to join, a few rules are needed to enjoy the seesaw. Psychologist and psychotherapist Joanna Trzaska and Izabela Banaszczyk, a child psychologist and one of the leaders of the Creative Pedagogy program, will discuss with workshop participants the most important principles in relationships so that everyone feels noticed, safe, and appreciated

host: Joanna Kujawska-Frejlich, Agata Walińska (Miniteka)

Together we will follow the adventures of the title characters in Marius Marcinkevičius' book. We will draw their outlines on huge sheets of paper, and then, using a variety of art materials, we will transform them into super grannies according to our imaginative visions. Their secret weapon? Herrings.

This workshop is inspired by the book Superbobutės by Marius Marcinkevičius.

Pärt ei oska saltot - a book by Anti Saar (Polish transl. Anna Michalczuk-Podlecki) will be read by Magdalena Bednarek, a Miniature Theatre actor.

The reading will be followed by a workshop inspired by the book.

• How to Deal with Emotions Triggered by Rivalry – workshop for adults | host: Joanna Trzaska (psychologist, psychotherapist)
• Best, Average, Worst – What's All This About? – workshop for children | host: Izabela Banaszczyk (child psychologist, Creative Pedagogy) | Goyki Park

We all like to be the best, but how do we deal with our emotions when someone else jumps higher? Mati, the seven-year-old protagonist of the Estonian Anti Saar's book, can't jump on the trampoline as well as his friend Kaisa. Is the only solution in such a situation to plot bloody revenge? Psychologist and psychotherapist Joanna Trzaska and  Izabela Banaszczyk, a child psychologist and one of the leaders of the Creative Pedagogy program, will reflect on why comparisons are a curse and how to appreciate one's worth with the workshop participants.

Meeting with Artur Gębka, book author and child psychotherapist. Excerpts from Artur Gębka's books will be read by Magdalena Bednarek.