Exceptionally for this year, Word Village Festival for sustainable development will be organised on several sites in Helsinki and in part online during the last week of May (23–29 May). The theme of the festival is the Boundaries of Our Planet.
The festival will be packed with free events organised at Helsinki’s Allas Sea Pool, Market Square, Tiivistämö event venue, Temppeliaukio Church and Kino Regina. The films screened at the Online Cinema as well as the talks and discussion programme from Tiivistämö will also be available online. As always, the programme will feature music, discussions, documentary firms, kids’ programme, art and the Market of Possibilities showcasing sustainable development organisations.
Concerts and art at Allas Sea Pool, Sun 29.5. 11–20
The main music event will be organised on Sunday at the open-air stage of Allas Sea Pool and feature a fabulous line-up of international and Finnish groups. The line-up includes the societally active West African supergroup Les Amazones d’Afrique, Ghanaian Santrofi, one of Finland’s most popular bands, Tuure Kilpeläinen ja Kaihon Karavaani, singer-songwriter SUAD and the children’s band Pikku Papun Orkesteri. You will also be able to take part in creating a collaborative work of art – Pollinator Paradie.
Discussions, music, art exhibition, terrace Tiivistämö, Sat 28.5. 11–23, Sun 29.5. 11–19. Talks and discussions also online.
Many of the festival’s talks and discussions can also be followed in English. An advocate for degrowth thinking Dr Jason Hickel will speak about global inequality and political economy. Filipino doctor Renzo R. Guinto will discuss the concept of planetary health. Former International Executive Director of Greenpeace International and Secretary-General of Amnesty International, South African environmental and human rights defender Kumi Naidoo will focus on climate justice in his keynote speech. Kenyan activist Phyllis Omido, dubbed the Erin Brockovich of East Africa, and Finnish Extinction Rebellion activist Iiris Laisi discuss the challenges of environmental activists around the world.
The audience can also enjoy music and art at the Tiviistämö event venue. My Equal Life photo exhibition provides glimpses into the everyday lives of ordinary people in Bangladesh. Tiivistämö will also feature the Elephant Lounge, where you can relax to the tunes played by DJs and enjoy drinks and food. Saturday will also see the rising rap talent NaharY perform on the terrace and evening gig of US-Mexican Orkesta Mendoza.
Online Cinema Mon 23.5. 10 – Sun 29.5. 23
The film programme will be screened at the Online Cinema and can be viewed free of charge throughout Finland during the festival week.
Bigger Than Us shows how young people all over the world are fighting for the climate and social justice. Tribes on the Edge uncovers the severe health crisis faced by Amazonian indigenous peoples. Metamorphosis is a magical film depicting the true scale of the global environmental crisis. Shepherds of the Earth tells a story about the the nomadic people’s struggle to survive. The visually stunning Into the Ice follows three pioneering glaciologists into the inland ice of Greenland.
Market of Possibilities, Market Square 29.5. 11–19
Showcasing sustainable development actors, the Market of Possibilities will bring more than 50 exhibitors from CSOs to authorities and enterprises to Helsinki’s Market Square on Sunday 29 May. Organisations taking part include the Festival’s main organiser, Fingo, as well as the Maailman Kuvalehti magazine, the Church in Helsinki, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, UN Association of Finland, the Sosped Foundation and many more. The Market of Possibilities will also feature Ernie’s Pop Up Spa.
Other venues
The music programme of the World Village Festival will also include a live concert at the Temppeliaukio Church featuring the collaboration of Nicole Willis and the Gospel Helsinki choir.
Oscar nominated animated documentary Flee will be screened at Kino Regina on Wednesday 25 May from 13.00 to 15.15.
Media accreditation for World Village Festival
Media accreditation for World Village Festival is now open. To apply, email or phone the Festival Communications Manager (see below for contact details) by 25 May. Accredited media representatives will receive a media pass that ensures access to all performances, including if the venue is already at full capacity. If you would like to propose interviews or other media items relating to the festival or its programme, please contact the Communications Manager as early as possible before or during the festival.
World Village Festival 23.–29.5.2022, Helsinki & worldvillage.fi
Read more about the programme >>
Check out the schedule >>
Check out the Market of Possibilities >>
More information
Communications manager: Nelli Korpi, nelli.korpi@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6698
Programme manager: Johanna Eurakoski, johanna.eurakoski@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6696
Press photos
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
#WorldVillageFestival
World Village Festival is Finland’s leading event for global action for the whole family, an admission free cultural festival, and a trade fair for sustainable development. The event will be organized in Helsinki and online 23.–29.5.2022 with “The boundaries of our planet” as the theme. The main organizer is Finnish Development NGOs Fingo. The main partners of the festival are the Helsinki Federation of Parishes, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the European Commission Representation in Finland, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Finland and the Maailman Kuvalehti magazine.
