Music and concerts remain the core of the event, but the Most Beautiful Festival in the World is not just about having fun. The AFA tackles issues, which are not easy, which are challenging, controversial at times, and yet very meaningful. The AFA guests are not afraid to raise the subjects that matter. Here is the plan for this year in a nutshell.
The Academy of the Finest of Arts is the hub for important meetings and conversations at the Most Beautiful Festival in the World from the get-go (that is since it first appeared at the Festival in 2006). The AFA is the place, where Lech Wałęsa, Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Leszek Balcerowicz discussed the future of Poland, where Monika Olejnik and Tomasz Sekielski would debate on journalism and journalists, it's a space, where Dorota Masłowska, Janusz Głowacki and Jerzy Bralczyk talked about the language and its role in the modern world. The AFA guests are always extraordinary people.
The AFA guests
This year the AFA will host Jakub Żulczyk, Krzysiek Sokołowski, Kamila Kielar and Piotr Strzeżysz, Wojciech Bojanowski and Marcin Wyrwał, Macin Dorociński, Janina Bąk and Piotr Jacoń, the creators of the film entitled "Johnny" about Fr. Jan Kaczkowski (who himself was the AFA guest in 2015), the members of Neo-Nówka comedy group, and Barbara Kurdej-Szatan.
War
The 28th edition of the Pol'and'Rock Festival will be a massive peace manifestation with the main message: NO WAR. Wojciech Bojanowski and Marcin Wyrwał will let the audience explore the arcana of the war correspondents' job on Friday, August 5, at 11:30. Russia's attack on Ukraine reminded the audience of the role of a war reporter, who is the eyewitness to the most dramatic crime scenes and thanks to whom the world can see the truth too.
Ukrainian bands performing at Pol'and'Rock Festival
On Thursday, August 4, at 22:20, the Ukrainian band Jinjer will play on the Festival's Main Stage. The group presents the rawest power and an impressive mixture of progressive groove metal and metalcore with inlays from funk, reggae and even jazz music. The GOCC Foundation invited Jinjer to play at the Most Beautiful Festival in the World in 2020, but unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the concert was cancelled. Eventually, this year, the audience will get the chance to see them live on the Main Stage. The GOCC Foundation standing in solidarity with Ukraine is positive that their show will be no more no less, but a symbolic message of peace, friendship, love, and music.
The line-up of the second stage will be highlighted by the Polish-Ukrainian band DAGADANA, who for the past 14 years have beautifully mixed elements of the two cultures through jazz, electronic and world music. Their artistic output makes for a great ambassador of the Slavic (both Polish and Ukrainian) culture. The band played at our Festival before in 2010. Their show will be held on Saturday, August 6, at 21:40.
Online hate speech
On Saturday, August 6, at 13:00, the GOCC Foundation invites you for a meeting with Barbara Kurdej-Szatan to discuss the online hate speech and how it impacts one's life. This meeting will be a special one for the GOCC Foundation too, since, the Foundation and the Festival production also face the problem of online hate speech occasionally.
LGBTQ+ community in Poland
A meeting "The right to be oneself - on identity, love and the need of support for the LGBTQ+ persons" with Janina Bąk and Piotr Jacoń will be held on Saturday, August 6, at 10:00. Janina Bąk and Piotr Jacoń are pro LGBTQ+ activists. The debate with the AFA audience will focus on the situation of the LGBTQ+ community in Poland, on equality and on respecting every human right.
27th Pol'and'Rock Festival, photo: Lucyna Lewandowska
Equality Parade at Pol'and'Rock Festival
The Equality Parade, organized by the Lambda Szczecin Association, will go through the field of the Most Beautiful Festival in the World on Friday, August 5, at 14:00. The event, manifesting the support for LGBTQ+ persons and a protest against discrimination and lack of tolerance, will be held for the third time at our Festival.
Festival that makes a difference
The GOCC Foundation is proud that the Festival is a place, where together with the audience, guests can debate on important and difficult matters. It is what makes our Festival not only a splendid music event but also a very needed dialogue platform that has a lot to offer. The GOCC Foundation strives to make a difference, inspire change for the better, to build a united and aware community. And it is beyond happy when the efforts are being recognized internationally, and Pol'and'Rock Festival is listed by National Geographic among the "Eight music festivals making a positive impact in 2022"!
