An invitation to the Minsk zinefest

On 12-14 September 2008 the zinefest will take place in Minsk.

This action will be a continuation of the Belarus zine gathering in Grodno in 2002 and also of Vilnius zinefest that was held in May 2008.

Festival is aimed to gather people who make their own magazines, books and other printed (or digital) editions independently and uncommercially. Together we will have a chance to discuss our general problems and to share the experience of keeping up the freedom of speech on the spur of the moment.

The programm is still being arranged. The preliminary topics for discussion are: the ways to print (an own printer or press, what paper to choose, etc.); artwork (higgledy-piggledy or one of the main parts of zine); the history of self-producted press; blogs, indymedia and other digital self-made publications.

You can offer your own lections, topics for discussion, films to watch and etc.

At this moment some Minsk publishers of "not-very-periodical" editions have already decided to take part in festival.

The subjects of festival actions and the list of participants will be replenished and publicated on the festival’s blog.

We invite everyone who wants to join, not only from Belarus, but also from neighbouring countries. The main working language of the festival will be russian, but that doesn’t decline the usage of other regional and international languages. Guests will be provided with place to sleep. Collective feeding will be provided. During all the festival’s actions it is forbidden to drink alcohol, use any drugs or appear in a drunk condition.

To make an application you have to write about yourself, your edition (if you product some) and the topics that you’d like to discuss, to our e-mail.

To communicate us use our e-mail adress: zinefest (at) riseup.net

The blog of the festival: http://zinefest.noblogs.org/