Choose the type of events you are interested in
Full Agenda | Panels | Exhibition | Live events | Films | Workshop | Networking
April 11
Day 1
13:00- 14:00
Outriders Klub
Registration
Come early enough to register for the entire festival. There will be coffee and something sweet waiting for you at the Klub before the panels begin.
14:00- 14:45
Outriders Klub
How to cover elections not a horse race?
Alina Gîrneț
Diez, Moldova
Daniel Rząsa
Google, CEE
“In 2024 over half of the world will be eligible to vote” or “4 billions of people will vote in 2024” - those catchy headlines caught media and publishers thinking how they cover elections and why it’s time to really change it.
Surrounded by narratives, misinformation, lying politicians - who hope to be quoted not verified, media must make some tough decisions in order to fullfil their duty rather then just amplify “what he/she said”.
In CEE important elections behind us, important ahead of us. We want to look at what was already achieved and what else can publishers do to protect the most important democratic ritual.
14:15-14:45
Karrot Cafe
Curatorial tour at the Art & Journalism exhibition
Mixer Festival curator
Anna Szylar
Anna, who curated the whole Mixer Festival, will take us behind the curtains and explain why it is so amazing. What went into designing agenda, what different element mean and why journalism needs art!
14:30- 15:30
Karrot Cafe
Data Visualization and podcasting for beginners - workshop
Orsolya Seregely
Press Freedom Foundation
Data visualisation is a key skill for effectively communicating complex information and insights. Your readers will gladly watch the picture with data rather than read thousands of words that explain the same information. But how to do this? Is there any easy tools you can use? Yes, and we will show you!
Or maybe are you thinking about podcasting? It is the great way to reach new auditorium, so come and join the workshop to find out what’s the most important for every podcaster and where to start!
15:00- 15:45
Outriders Klub
Putin, Orban, Ukraine, and the Illusion of a Divided EU
Dóra Németh
RFE/RL
Kristina Zakurdaeva
RFE/RL
Current Time, RFE/RL's Russian-language TV, and Szabad Európa, RFE/RL’s Hungarian Service, analyzed 15.000 articles published by Russian and Hungarian pro-government media, exposing the intricate dynamics of Russian and Hungarian state propaganda.
This investigation reveals an orchestrated effort to justify Russia's actions in Ukraine and to portray Hungary as an ally of Russia, which is far from reality, as Budapest has supported EU sanctions against Russia. The team used data mining techniques and data visualization to illustrate the difficulties of a hostile environment for independent journalism in both countries.
This investigation received a special citation in the 2023 Philip Meyer Journalism Award.
16:00- 17:00
Outriders Klub
The Stakes in the 2024 American Presidential Election
Michael Isikoff
Investigative journalist and author
Vjosa Çerkini
Journalist, filmmaker
Enormous stakes for the U.S. and western democracies in this year's presidential election, especially on the foreign policy front and how Donald Trump's all but certain nomination by the Republican Party fits into a broader global pattern reflecting the resurgence of authoritarianism.
17:00- 18:00
Outriders Klub
Changing landscape of conflict reporting
Graeme Wood
The Atlantic
Mateusz Mazzini
Reporter
Discussion about the changing landscape of conflict reporting, with particular reference to Ukraine and Israel/Gaza conflict.
Coffee break
18:00 - 19:00
Relax and prepare yourself for the immersive audio storytelling evening starting at 19:00 just around the corner
19:00 - 20:30
Outriders Klub
As soon as you open the photo book and the soundscape and narration begin, you are transported into a story that flows in many directions, only to emerge 77 minutes later. This tender and urgent experience, fueled with music by Oren Ambarchi and Perila, takes you on an unlikely path from Lausanne to Izmir in what gradually becomes a moving and troubled psychogeography.
Led by the voice of artist Ant Hampton and tracing your fingers along the pages of the book, you set off together, along with two artist friends. One of them experiences health problems halfway through and has to stop.
As the other continues alone, the narration grows into a fervent piecing-together of a series of interconnected elements: voices and earthquakes, Sephardic Jewish diasporas, forced movement, breakdowns and dementia, swifts and swallows, T.S. Eliot’s famed poem “The Waste Land” and an urgent insight into atrocities at the edges of Europe. A truly miraculous feat of non-linear storytelling, this is your chance to experience Borderline Visible collectively in an intimate theater setting.
19:30 - 23:00
Karrot Cafe
Party
Head to the Karrot Cafe for a networking party
April 12
Day 2
11:00 - 16:00
Outriders Klub
“The Walls of Europe” - multiscreening exhibition by Outriders
“The Walls of Europe” is a multi-screening exhibition showing how the European Union, whose policy was welcoming of migrants during the refugee crisis in 2015, currently finds itself enclosed and traversed by over 2,000 kilometres of border fences.
The project bring the scale and impact of “Fortress Europe” into focus. It is the result of seven field trips to Bulgaria, Greece, France, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Spain and an output of a cooperation between Outriders, a Warsaw-based non-profit newsroom; Spanish newspaper El Confidencial; Fundación PorCausa, a Spanish non-profit specializing in migration issues; Greek investigative news outlet Solomon; and Baynana, a Madrid-based outlet that provides public service journalism in Arabic and Spanish.
11:00 - 11:20
Polityka
Fighting sanctions evasion: recent developments, systemic challenges and possible solution
Stanislau Ivashkevich
Belarusian Investigative Center
Sanctioned players use proxies to circumvent limitations imposed against them. When a beneficiary owner is sanctioned, a nominal proxy often takes his place in key positions of his businesses. Proxy companies and proxy jurisdictions are also used extensively to deliver goods to and from forbidden countries. The presentation will describe recent practices of both sanctions evaders and agencies tasked with combating such circumvention. We will also look at some of the reasons for their respective successes and failures.
11:20 - 11:45
Polityka
Politvyazynka: media project about politically imprisoned Belarusan women
Yauheniya Dolgaya
Journalist
Since 2020, at least five thousand Belarusians have been convicted in politically criminal cases. Now there are at least 200 Belarusians behind bars. According to human rights activists, at least 1,000 women have been convicted in political criminal cases since 2020.
During the talk you will hear the voices of political prisoners of Belarusan women generated by artificial intelligence. These are their real words, which they said at the last word in court and wrote in letters from prison to their relatives.
12:00- 12:45
Polityka
Digital culture: is there such a section in the media and how to write about it?
Bartek Chaciński
Polityka
Agnieszka Słodownik
Podcaster, educator
Critic, game scriptwriter
Paweł Schreiber
Olaf Szewczyk
Polityka
Digital culture, which encompasses fields such as film, visual arts, and computer games, often struggles to find a place in the editorial pages of magazines or online portals. Few journalists feel confident reviewing digital works, and these topics are usually assigned to technology departments or individuals with relevant expertise. However, there is a dearth of spaces where such critique is regularly conducted. In our discussion, we will explore the reasons behind this issue, along with editors and digital culture enthusiasts.
12:45- 13:30
Polityka
Not numbers, but people. How to cover the war through stories
Daryna Tymkiv
The Ukrainians Media
Jagoda Grondecka
Journalist
Russia's war against Ukraine is reshaping world history. Initially, the world was shocked, but as time passed, narratives transformed into mere statistics, complaints, or tearful stories that seemed increasingly distant to those leading ordinary lives. Naturally, people tend to distance themselves from such news over time.
During the presentation, we will explore how The Ukrainians Media team adeptly covers the topic of war without losing the audience's interest and, instead, manages to attract new readers by introducing innovative formats and crafting stories that resonate deeply.
Lunch break
13:30- 14:00
14:00- 14:45
Polityka
Mozilla Festival - in urge for Solidarity
Zeina Abi Assy
Mozilla Fundation
This year is urgent: there are 83 elections in 76 countries, the climate crisis is being exacerbated, AI is impacting employment and increasing the digital divide that impacts the most vulnerable communities, and global conflict is causing significant loss of life and growing decisiveness in the world. And AI’s role in all these issues is ever more pressing. So what is the task at hand? Join this talk to hear more about the Mozilla Foundation and the Festival and how you can get involved.
14:45- 15:30
Polityka
Investigating Datasets
Christo Buschek
Der SPIEGEL, Paper Trail Media
In collaboration with the Knowing Machines Project at New York University, Der SPIEGEL and Paper Trail Media have investigated the construction and composition of LAION5B and other datasets. The investigation traces this dataset’s construction and reveals the values and curatorial underpinnings of our AI revolution.
Coffee break
15:30- 16:00
16:00- 16:45
Polityka
AI development - the need for a new paradigm
Jacek Nagłowski
AI researcher and astist
Artificial intelligence as a phenomenon shows, as through a lens, the patterns of social behavior we are witnessing in other areas as well. At the same time, reactive coping strategies sacrifice long-term prosperity for the illusion of immediate security, and consequently undermine societies' trust in the key institutions responsible for finding and proposing solutions: the academy, the media, state and supranational institutions. Based on the analysis of artificial intelligence systems as an example of information complex systems, I would like to propose a certain interpretation of all these overlapping crises, which perhaps offers hope for controlling fears, and consequently opens spaces for finding viable and effective solutions. A way that, instead of leading us to wring our hands, pretend that everything will somehow work itself out, or fight against each other, will perhaps allow us to adopt more constructive attitudes towards reality. as a counter to the fearful narratives of modern times.
16:00- 18:00
Outriders Klub
AI's integration into life: Dystopia or Utopia? - workshop
Zeina Abi Assy
Mozilla Fundation
Jessica Jabr
Pratt Institute, Parsons School of Design
This workshop will focus on AI’s integration into current and future forms of media. Journalists and media professionals are facing critical challenges and creative opportunities with AI. Questions about: mis and disinformation, image making, deepfakes and video manipulation, language models, media display, and co-creation are at the fore. How can we potentially influence the outcomes of AI into an expansive future that is not at the cost of human labor, natural resources, and social justice? And what are the ways journalists can help steer its direction?
18:00- 19:00
Outriders Klub
It's time to become a journalist-creator: How and why journalists should TikTok
Sophia Smith Galer
TikTok, BBC, Vice News
Sophia walks through her process of scriptwriting for social media video, and how algorithmic journalism should become a focal point of every newsroom.
19:00- 20:15
Outriders Klub
Through the Looking Glass by Ron Haviv/VII
Special multimedia spectacle with visuals by Ron Haviv/VII
Photoreporter Agency VII
Ron Haviv
20:30- 1:00
Outriders Klub
Karrot Cafe
Demagog afterparty
Join the coolest after party with the folks from Demagog Association
April 13
Day 3
12:00- 12:45
Outriders Klub
Great Storytelling as antidote to polarization
Andrew Mills
Journalist
In an era where increasing political polarization threatens the very fabric of pluralistic democracy, Andy makes the argument that effective storytelling is an essential tool for journalists. The current media landscape, often marred by sensationalism and division, urgently needs to abandon confirmation bias and embrace complexity and nuance. Through the art of good storytelling, journalists have the power to illuminate the intricate humanity of our fellow citizens, fostering empathy and clarity amidst discord.
13:00- 13:45
Outriders Klub
Raising Empathy Through Narrative Journalism
Indre Kiršaitė
Nara.lt
Magdalena Kicinska
Pismo
In an alienated society, it is easy to retreat into isolation. NARA, a Lithuanian non-profit media collective, continually searches for new ways to start conversations about uncomfortable topics and encourage mutual understanding.
It is a beautiful digital magazine showcasing different stories from Lithuania. When all media look the same (hey Tiktok channels looking at you!) — we have to think how to keep the “magazine” approach to media alive and beneficial for users. Not everything has to be simple and massive. Niche also doesn’t have to be small — when you find your audience and solve their problems.
Coffee break
13:45- 14:00
14:00- 14:45
Outriders Klub
When journalism needs an artist
Tytus Szabelski-Różniak
AMZN artist
Agnieszka Lichnerowicz
TOK FM
Sometimes a journalism task requires so out of a box thinking that we need “art” to find a solution to tell a story. Tytus will showcase the thinking behind one of his stories.
14:45- 15:30
Outriders Klub
Illustrative journalism
Olena Lavruk
Inker
Will illustration and comics be the first victim of AI tools? Midjourney and friends are growing in its capacities giving everyone power to create their own quickly.
Illustrative journalism was never very popular, but done properly was always impactful. In many ways its used to show the reality which cannot be photographed or explained otherwise.
Together with our friends from Ukrainian Inker we will explore their creations and think where they see this genre going.
Justyna Minkiewicz
Lunch break
15:30- 17:00
17:00-18:00
Karrot
Curatorial tour at the Art & Journalism exhibition
Mixer Festival curator
Anna Szylar
Anna, who curated the whole Mixer Festival, will take us behind the curtains and explain why it is so amazing. What went into designing agenda, what different element mean and why journalism needs art!
18:00- 19:00
Outriders Klub
In the depths of the world's grandest courthouse lies a hidden treasure trove - an evidence room brimming with real and surreal artifacts utilized in the commission of heinous crimes. Enter Sevki Duru, the enigmatic ruler of this subterranean realm, poised to unveil his most prized possessions: a captivating collection of crime weapons, each with its own remarkable tale. Hailing from a land where Big Brother still reigns supreme, Duru arrives with a daring agenda. But be forewarned - his motives remain shrouded in mystery. Is he merely a humble clerk, as he professes, or a masterful raconteur, a cunning fraudster, or perhaps a desperate asylum seeker? The verdict is yours to render. All rise, and let justice be served.
Betal Özay
Storyteller
19:20- 19:45
Outriders Klub
Through the Looking Glass by Ron Haviv/VII
Special multimedia spectacle with visuals by Ron Haviv/VII
Photoreporter Agency VII
Ron Haviv
19:45
Outriders Klub
AFTERPARTY
Networking party at Outriders Klub!
April 14 - Movie screenings
Day 4
15:00- 16:30
Outriders Klub
In the rareview
Director: Maciej Hamela
A small van traverses war-torn roads, picking up Ukrainians as they abandon their homes at the front. Shuttling them across the battered landscape into exile, the van becomes a fragile refuge, a zone for its passengers' confidences.
16:45- 18:15
Outriders Klub
Directors: Hanna Badziaka, Alexander Mihalkovich
Motherland
After the loss of her son, Svetlana investigates the violent culture of the Belarusian army. A group of friends soon to be enlisted, they go to rave parties and protest march following the re-election of Aleksandr Lukashenko.
18:15- 18:35
Outriders Klub
Fighting the shadow
Director: Nadiya Rodkina
The political situation in Belarus forced Dima to flee the country. Fearing for his loved ones, he constantly maintains contact with those who had to stay there. Despite his various efforts to start a new life in Poland, he keeps fighting the shadow of his past.
18:35- 18:45
Outriders Klub
There are people in the forest
Director: Szymon Ruczynski
A lonely man limps down the road. A truck drives up to him. Several armed men jump out of it. They capture the limping man and transport him to the forest. The only witnesses of the scene are people from a nearby village. Since 2021, situations like these are commonplace on the Polish-Belarussian border of the EU, which is the scene of an ongoing refugee crisis. An animated documentary whose creator happens to live in a town by the border.
