An Inspiring Day of Creativity and Community

On May 16, 2025, the Global Village Berlin in Neukölln transformed into a vibrant space for postmigrant visions and creative narratives. At the first transdisciplinary PostOst Creative Fest, over 15 acts came together to challenge harmful stereotypes about Eastern, Southeastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia through the power of “storytelling against disinformation.”

From 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., the indoor and outdoor areas of Global Village were filled with art, inspiring talks, film screenings, interactive workshops, energetic music, communal cooking, relaxing banya sessions, and even tarot readings. Under the patronage of Natalie Pawlik, Member of Parliament and Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration, a unique space for participation, exchange, and networking was created.

Unforgettable moments that will stay with us:

• A festive opening with Natalie Pawlik and the committed X3 Collective – a motivating start to the day!

• Engaging talks on “Right-wing shifts & postmigrant strategies” featuring Katarina Niewiedzial, Molly Stenzel, and Pegah Byroum-Wand, moderated by the charming Ani Menua.

• Panel discussion “POSTOSTDEUTSCHLAND” with Dennis Chiponda, Darja Klingenberg, and Enrique Torres, led by Julia Boxler – full of insights and ideas.

• Culinary adventures: cooking workshops on Manty (by Yerkin Khalimolda) and Shelpek/Baursak (by Saltanat Shoshanova) – a sensory celebration that brought us all closer.

• Banya Unlimited – the mobile sauna by Elena Malzewa that warmed up new conversations like an icebreaker.

• Screening of “MUHA” (by Alina Yklymova), followed by a lively Q&A – truly moving!

• PostOst bazaar and tarot readings as innovative formats for networking – creative and welcoming.

• Musical highlights: a high-energy concert by Jemek Jemowit and an electrifying closing DJ set by donotdistort that made the night unforgettable.

Especially the community activities like the vibrant PostOst Bazaar, the joyful “Tusowka” with Durak Stammtisch, and the continuously soothing banya session by Elena Malzewa created magical moments of connection. The festival offered a beautiful platform for fresh narratives that critically questioned stereotypes, resisted simplifications, and showed us how enriching our stories can be.

At its core was the intentional expansion of the anti-racism discourse to include often overlooked PostOst perspectives. The festival transformed migrant experiences into collective strength: through “storytelling against disinformation,” diverse biographies were connected without being flattened.

The X3 SPACES Creative Fest was funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, organized by DePart e.V., and held in cooperation with Berlin Global Village and the Network for Reporting on Eastern Europe.

🎧 You can listen to conversations like the talk on right-wing shifts & postmigrant strategies here:
https://x3podcast.de/

Pictures by © Anna Malgina.