Berlin Stories | 14-20 March

Protests, parties, panels and more.

News: On 12 March a fire broke out in a refugee camp in Berlin Tegel. Previously, the inhabitants had been complaining about the horrible state of facilities and lack of space to safely home 4.200 people. Activist organisations like Pro Asyl and Leave No One Behind called on the Berliner Senate to take immediate action to improve the living situation of migrants and grant access to safe housing. Grassroots organisations like Schlafplatzorga have been taking matters into their own hands organising sleeping places for migrants in Berlin.

Film Festival: This weekend, the fourth edition of the international feminist film festival Vierte Welle Film Fest takes place at Kino Lichtblick. The festival opens on 15 March with a networking event. On the following two days, a selection of international queer feminist films will be screened. Opening at Projektraum Bardo 15 March from 18:00, with screenings 16 March from 16:00 and 17 March from 18:00 at Kino Lichtblick in Prenzlauer Berg.

Screening: Sinema Transtopia is screening Augure (Omen) on 15 March. The fictional film follows a young Congolese man returning to his village near Kinshasa. It is the debut film by Baloji, who uses magical realism to explore prejudices associated with witchcraft. The screenings starts at 20:00 at Sinema Transtopia.

Commemoration: 16 March marks the third anniversary of the racist and sexist murders in Atlanta, USA. This 16 March we commemorate the victims of anti-Asian racism internationally and in Germany. The memorial event is organised by In Memory In Resistance and takes place on Saturday from 14:00 at the Statue of Peace in Berlin-Moabit. We Remember! We Resist!

Screening and discussion: Head to Oyoun on 16 March for a screening of the film Aisheen: still alive In Gaza, followed by a discussion with activist Ramsy Kilani.

Fundraiser launch: Korientation, the network for Asian-German perspectives in Berlin is launching a fundraising campaign to sustain their work with affordable workplaces and shared spaces for Asian and BiPoC communities. On 16 March from 16-18:00 Korientation is hosting a launch event at Haus der Statistik to share more information.

Demonstration: 18 March is the international day of solidarity with political prisoners. Young Struggle and Zora Berlin are organising a demonstration at Kottbusser Tor to show solidarity and raise awareness of the imprisoned activists in Germany but also internationally. The demo starts at 17:00.

Fundraiser: donate now to the organisers of Palästina Kongress, an event due to be held in Berlin 12-14 April. The congress will feature keynote speakers, panels, workshops and space for pro-Palestinian activists and organisers to come together to decide on practical steps for action. Find out more and donate here.

Release: check out a brand new compilation by Hot Concept, featuring Refuge regulars Gramrcy, John Loveless, Olin, Jack Savidge and O.N.A, plus many more.

Open call: The Terminal is an event series that will run from May until October 2024. They are calling for applications from “artists from migrant, refuge, marginalized, and discriminated backgrounds who face hardships and difficulties in travelling from their current geographical locations to places with artistic production capacities and audience, and would like to showcase their artwork (visual art, video, audio, performance, etc.)” Read more and apply here.

Info event: On 20 March counselling centre SMART BERLIN is hosting an event with Sex Worker Action Group to discuss the demand for decriminalisation from the perspective of sex workers.

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Header image: Syrian activists at 1 May demonstration in Berlin, 2019 (CCO 1.0 DEED.)