Lecture by psychologist Zuzanna Nieradzik and screening of the film “Lars is Lol” /Affirmation Festival “To Live Stronger...?” 2026

The theme of this year's edition of the Affirmation Festival “To Live Stronger...?” Hate is a ubiquitous phenomenon nowadays that almost everyone has to face in everyday life. It affects children and young people the most, which is why it is so important to provide them with tools so that they can defend themselves against it and deal with its consequences.

In the age of social media, it is very easy to hate, because you do not have to say offensive words to the other person directly in the eye, you can hide behind a phone screen and be seemingly anonymous. The hate that appears on the web can therefore be even more dangerous, it is not always known who is behind it and unflattering content spreads quickly, almost everyone has access to it.

If young people who are victims of hate do not find adequate support, they can resort to alcohol and psychoactive drugs, which become for them a form of escape from reality. Injuries often cannot be forgotten, and their consequences have to be dealt with many times throughout life. Loneliness or reduced self-esteem appear, but often there may be a psychological breakdown or addiction to narcotic drugs.

During this year's edition of the Affirmation Festival “LIVE HARDER...?” we offer an exhibition, workshops, lectures and videos that address the topic of hate. The sessions will be preceded by lectures by specialists who will help to understand the issues presented in the film or animation. All this in order to spread knowledge, educate, help understand this difficult phenomenon and realize that kindness costs nothing, and one negative comment more than once sets off a wave of hate that can have serious consequences.

Amanda can't wait to start sixth grade. According to school tradition, she is supposed to be taken care of by some sweet first-grader. Instead, Lars is taken into her care, a new student in the class who additionally has Down syndrome. Is it possible to be friends with someone like that? How will her friends and colleagues treat her? What would Adam say about it, who really, really likes it?

2023 | Norway | dir. E. Sæter Stordahl | 89 min | Family | DUBBING | 10+

TEASER

Event for students in grades 4-6 of elementary school

Admission to all events is free Coordinators: Katarzyna Filak, Aleksandra Jasiurkowska

Registration for events for schools and kindergartens is valid at 32 285 27 34 w.15 or 515 762,441 (registrations are accepted from 27 October).

Event co-financed by the Tarnowskie Góry Town Hall