That's how we live - from QUEERFEST to QUEERFEST. Already in May, we start thinking how much fun it is to meet each other again at the festival in September. But first things first.

What is QUEERFEST?

QUEERFEST is a cultural and human rights event aimed at fighting xenophobia; it is organized in the form of a pride-festival, which lasts for 10 days with more than 15 different events altogether. The 9th international festival QUEERFEST will be held in St.Petersburg from 14 till 24 September, 2017.

Great festival! But what is the application process for?

We like sharing our spaces. That is why a special format such as OPENSPACE events exists at QUEERFEST. If you are an independent activist, an initiative group, or an organization, and you have something to say, this format is definitely for you. Today we are opening the application process for participating in OPENSPACE so that everyone could have a possibilty to arrange readings, discussions, performances, film-screenings, master-classes, work-shops, or some other kind of activities expressing the main topic of the festival.

About You, About Me, About Our Life: the topic of this QUEERFEST.

We all live one life. Here and now. Today we are falling in love and studying; right now talking to our parents, looking for support or for a job, making friends. We are getting to know our body, accepting our health issues, building our family, opening up our sexuality. Now.

We cannot wait till they will "allow" us to do those: our life has already started, and we are living it the way we can. Yes, under these difficult Russian conditions. We exist. And in 2017 we are inviting our guests to take a trip through our life lines.

"Following the Life Line" is the topic of this year QUEERFEST. We want to get into stories of people from our communities by expressing the everyday LGBT culture. Everything taking place in a real life of each of us will be present here – voices, love, loneliness, addictions, families, bodies, physical and mental health, age, death.

Who can come to QUEERFEST?

We invite LGBT activists and anyone, who have something to share with us, from the Russian Federation (not only from St. Petersburg, but from all regions) as well as from the post-Soviet countries. We cover all the travel and accommodation expenses for the participants of OPENSPACE.

What are we looking at while looking through your applications?

At originality of your material. At inclusion of various groups, identities, ages. At project feasibility: we estimate if we are able to provide your event with necessary resources. Finally, at correspondance with the festival topic. This year QUEERFEST is planned to be very personal: our voices, our stories, our statements.

All clear! I want to come and participate. What do I have to do and in what time?

Please, fill in the application form either by clicking here. Applications can be submitted from May, 23 to June, 12 (including), 2017. On June, 4 all the applicants will receive a letter from our team with results.

Do you want to help us? Please, share this call! Have you got any additional questions? Please, don't hesitate to write to Ruslan Savolainen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with "OPENSPACE QUEERFEST2017" in the subject section. Ruslan will answer!

We hope that your lifeline will bring you to QUEERFEST this year! It is high time. Meanwhile, read about QUEERFEST of previous years here at our web-site. See you there!

Before filling in the application form, please, read this instruction.