Freedom Games 2018: Alternative Celebrations for All Democrats

How was it? Well, if you celebrated with us, we probably do not need to remind you, although a lot happened! For those of you who were unable to join us, or those who would like to reminisce, we present an overview of the key events and a short summary of this year’s edition of Freedom Games.

: Robert Biedroń with Freedom Games participants

: Joanna Kos-Krauze, Maja Komorowska, Konrad Szołajski in a panel discussion on historical policy in cinematography

: Marcin Król, Anna Materska-Sosnowska, Aleksander Smolar and Tomasz Kamiński in a panel discussion devoted to the book “How Democracies Die”

: Donald Tusk at Freedom Games

: Full room, no surprises

The fifth edition of Freedom Games, a unique interdisciplinary forum held annually in Lodz, Poland, was the biggest and most prestigious of all editions so far. Liberté! Foundation, the main organizer of the event, managed to gather over 3,500 participants from Poland and abroad, as well as attract wide national media coverage.

The main theme of this year’s edition was “Battle of History”, as the forum, held on November 9-11, 2018, coincided with the centenary anniversary of regaining Polish independence. We had a chance to celebrate in a spectacular venue: EC1 – City of Culture, a former power plant which was adapted into a breathtaking large-scale complex that now fulfills cultural, artistic, and social functions.

: Robert Biedroń delivering his lively speech

: President of Lodz Hanna Zdanowska with Donald Tuski

: “Battle of Identity” panel discussion

: Full room during the opening speeches

: Panel discussion on historical politics in cinematography

During two and a half days, Lodz became a true capital of alternative and joyous celebrations aimed at promoting democracy, open society, free market, and a safe space for discussing the topics related to a historical perspective on raison d’etat, economy, the future of Europe and the European Union, feminism, film industry, animal rights, and many more.

37 panel discussions, round tables, literary meeting, and lectures took place, enabling the speakers and audiences to exchange their views and debate the current state of a number of issues that constitute a vital point of reference for understanding the times we live in and identifying the areas that require our attention.

We had the honor to host over 130 speakers, including such renowned and prominent figures as President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of Freedom House Michael J. Abramowitz, Rector of the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna Shalini Randeria, Jamie Whyte of Institute of Economic Affairs as Director of Research, Brendan Simms of Centre of International Studies at the University of Cambridge, Marci Shore of Yale University, Luba Jurgensson of Department of Slavic Studies of Sorbonne University, Leszek Balcerowicz (founder and Council Chairman of Civil Development Forum), former economic adviser to Emmanuel Macron, George Soros, and Herman Van Rompuy, Shahin Vallee, among others.

: Leszek Balcerowicz delivering his speech

: President of the European Council Donald Tusk delivering his speech

: Shalini Randeria delivering her speech

: Agnieszka Holland during the panel discussion on historical politics in cinematography

: Michael J. Abramowitz delivering his speech

The forum hosted also a large group of Polish politicians, MPs, and MEPs: former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of National Defense Radosław Sikorski, former Minister of Interior Barłomiej Sienkiewicz, Katarzyna Lubnauer (Nowoczesna), Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz (Nowoczesna), Monika Rosa (Nowoczesna), Adam Szłapka (Nowoczesna), Henryka Krzywonos-Strycharska (Civic Platform), Borys Budka (Civic Platform), Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska (Civic Platform), Barbara Nowacka (Civic Coalition), Robert Biedroń (independent), Janusz Palikot (former leader of Your Movement), Małgorzata Tkacz-Janik (former leader of Polish Greens), Michał Boni (MEP), among others.

: A meeting with Radosław Sikorski

: Janus Palikot during the “Battle of Identity” panel discussion

: Barbara Nowacka during the panel on women’s vote in Poland

: Michał Boni during the panel discussion on the relations between technology and the state

: Henryka Krzywonos-Strycharska delivering her speech

There was also a strong representation of Polish NGOs and members of civil society: Aleksander Smolar (President of Stefan Batory Foundation), Paweł Kasprzak (Citizens of Poland), Henryk Wujec (former member of a democratic opposition during the Polish People’s Republic), Sylwia Spurek (Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Poland), Aleksandra Knapik and Kasia Gauza (Gals for Gals Lodz Association), Dariusz Paczkowski (Klamra Foundation), Sławomir Sierakowski (Krytyka Polityczna), among others.

: A panel discussion on women’s vote in Poland

: A panel discussion on the history of LGBT movements in Poland

: A panel discussion on women’s vote in Poland

: Kasia Gauza delivering her speech

: Henryk Wujec during a roundtable on responsibility

We also hosted a number of writers and members of academia, who helped us shape the unique interdisciplinary atmosphere of the event.

: Marci Shore on her book “The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution”

: A literary meeting with Stefan Chwin

: A literary meeting with Dorota Masłowska

: A literary meeting with Eustachy Rylski

: Tomasz Lis on his book “Historia prywatna”

The grand finale of Freedom Games 2018 was devoted to a special event titled “Independent Polish Woman” and included a series of power speeches delivered by a group of high-profile Polish women, with an address by former First Lady of the Republic of Poland Jolanta Kwaśniewska.

: Magda Melnyk moderated the “Independent Polish Woman” event

: Jolanta Kwaśniewska delivering her speech

: Olga Kozeirowska delivering her speech

: Independent Polish women on the Freedom Games stage

: Hanna Lis delivering her speech

Every evening, Freedom Games attendees had a chance to take part in a music concert. During this year’s edition we welcomed on our stage: The Love and Beauty Seekers, Karolina Cicha & Company, and Natalia Przybysz & Rafael Rogiński.