The 12th Bruno Schulz International Festival has opened in Drohobych. The official opening took place at the Yuri Drohobych Lviv Regional Music and Drama Theatre.
The start of the festival was marked by a minute of silence. Afterwards, participants and guests were welcomed by the festival director, Vira Menyok, and the head of the Drohobych community, Taras Kuchma. In his address, the mayor thanked the international guests, in particular the delegation from Poland, for their support of Ukraine during the full-scale war and stressed the importance of preserving Ukrainian-Polish dialogue.
Today, as I speak, I am anxious, because I want to be properly understood. And through my words I want the entire Ukrainian people to be understood, a people who today are bearing an extraordinarily heavy burden. I would like to thank all the guests of the festival and especially those who have come to us from Poland and are here with us today. We will never forget your support. For at a time when the whole world was expecting us to fall, it was Poland that, in the very first days, reached out a helping hand to us, and Poles sincerely opened their doors to Ukrainian women and children who were fleeing the war. What has happened now? Can Russian propaganda really be so powerful? Can evil really destroy our friendly relations – when we are united by a common struggle and a common enemy? This festival is about bringing people together; it shows that culture and art stand above any political upheavals. I thank each and every one of you who has come to us today. I know that you can look forward to an engaging programme and substantial, in-depth discussions. I wish you enjoyment of these events and of your stay in Drohobych – for our city has always been, and will remain, open to you,” emphasised Taras Kuchma.
Speakers at the opening ceremony also included the director of the Polish Institute in Kyiv, Jarosław Godun; the artistic director of Schulzfest and head of the Society “Bruno Schulz Festival in Drohobych”, Grzegorz Józefczuk; the literary scholar Paweł Pruhniak; as well as other co-organisers and distinguished guests from Poland.
As Schulzfest traditionally takes place in cooperation with the Ivan Franko Drohobych State Pedagogical University, the university’s Vice-Rector, Mykola Pantiuk, also addressed the participants.
The first event of the festival programme at the theatre was a “Conversation of Poems” featuring Serhiy Zhadan and the Polish poet Ryszard Krynicki, with the discussion moderated by Paweł Pruhniak.
The festival will run until 18 July and will feature a rich literary and artistic programme. On 13 July at 12:00, a discussion with the participation of Serhiy Zhadan, dedicated to Ukrainian-Polish relations, is scheduled to take place at the Diia Centre in Drohobych. All Schulzfest events are free to attend, and the organisers invite everyone interested to join.