Berlin Stories | 10-17 October

Our latest updates for the week ahead.

Protest: mera25 Germany is calling for a rally against the planned visit of US-president Joe Biden to Berlin on 10 and 11 October. They criticise the US support of the genocide in Gaza and how “Genocide Joe” continues to supply weapons to Israel. The protest takes place on Friday the 11 October from 18:00 at Alexanderplatz.

Support: The Berliner CBD shop Bubble CBD has been victim of police raids. On 2 October, police violently entered the store and the store owner's house and confiscated products because of a pro-Palestine sticker. The queer-owned business on Sonnenallee is calling for donations to pay bills and keep the business going. You can contribute via Paypal (info@bubblecbdshop.com).

T4T Festival: From 11-13 October, T4T festival is taking place for the first time. The festival is by and for trans*, inter* and non-binary people and hosts a line-up with many local TIN* artists. There will be life drawing sessions, drag performances, workshops and music. To check out the schedule and the full program, head to their Instagram page.

Film festivals: This weekend several film festivals are taking place. From 10-13 October the queer film festival Soura returns in its 5th year. The festival highlights queer talents from the SWANA region and is hosted by Sinema Transtopia. From 9-15 October, Berlin's Kurdish film festival presents a diverse selection of films by Kurdish filmmakers at Babylon Kino. This year, the festival focus lies on queer Kurdish stories. The Hive International Short Film Days are also back in their 4th edition. They will present a selection of films, panel talks, and DJ Sets at Flutgraben from 11-13 October.

Performances: More than 500 years after the colonization of Latin America, the Berliner vocal ensemble Canto Diásporico performs at Spore Initiative. The women’s ensemble creates space for reflection and uses their performances as a way to connect and resist together with the community. The event, titled “Voces, cuerpos, comunidad y resistencia”, takes place from 11-13 October.

Launch Party: Assila, the first Berliner Arab beer brand, celebrates its launch at Oona Bar this Sunday 13 October from 15-20:00. Sarah Zeryab, Monokultur, Juno and Mary Vizbiz will take care of the entertainment with DJ sets, visuals and live performance.

Book Fair: Miss Read, the Berliner Art Book Fair & Festival for Independent Publishing takes place from 11-13 October at HKW. This year, the festival program highlights Afro-feminist and queer voices. Titled “Where Our Freedom Begins: Afro-Feminist Mo(ve)ments in Germany” the program curated by Anguezomo Nzé Mba Bikoro and Pascale Obolo aims to retrace the diverse genealogies of Black queer feminist experiences through panel talks, music, film screenings, and workshops.

Event: The Queer Skin exhibition and runway show takes place at Napoleon Komplex on October 26th, exploring "queer identities, bodies, notions of beauty and what lies beyond." Tickets available now.

Fundraiser: The initiative Id3am Relief Fund for Lebanon is hosting a fundraiser at Oyoun on 9 October from 18-23:00. Refuge guest Meshwar Mixtapes will be on stage with a musical storytelling session as well as Syrian Oud player Ahmad Ajouz and rappers Sorah and Spoke. The money raised will go to families in Lebanon affected by the Israeli aggression.