How can artificial intelligence redefine human creativity? What shapes our understanding of freedom when liberty itself is under threat? Can musical innovation bridge cultural divides?
The countdown to Georgia’s most transformative cultural event has begun and we’re thrilled to reveal more details about the upcoming ZEG Storytelling Festival, returning for its 5th edition on June 13-15, 2025.
This year’s festival dives deeper than ever into the narratives shaping our collective future, bringing Tbilisi into conversation with global thought leaders across disciplines for three days of boundary-breaking dialogue, creative exploration, and meaningful connection.
As we grapple with AI’s accelerating impact on our world, visionary thinkers will gather to explore The Future of AI and Creativity, examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping artistic expression and human innovation. Against the backdrop of global conflicts, Freedom Under Fire: What Liberty Means in Times of Crisis will navigate the fragile balance of fundamental rights during turbulent times.
The festival celebrates local innovation with Imaginary Worlds, Real Impact: Kordz and New Georgian Sound, spotlighting musical movements redefining Georgian cultural identity on the global stage, alongside acclaimed Georgian pianist Giorgi Gigashvili, who will explore Art and Resistance through his groundbreaking performances. For those questioning traditional education models, The Future Is DIY: Rethinking Learning in a Disrupted World will explore alternative pathways for knowledge in uncertain times.
Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz will challenge conventional wisdom in Economics in an Age of Distrust, while legendary portrait photographer Platon will lead an intimate masterclass on Photographing Power. We will question the possibilities and limits of humour as a guard against authoritarianism in the session Surviving Trump 2.0: Writing, Comedy and the Lifeline of Satire.
The festival confronts our most pressing global challenges through sessions like Drawing Ukraine: Art as Witness in War and Sketches from the Front: The Middle East, exploring how visual storytelling captures truth when words fall short. Acclaimed Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena will share insights in Solving Big Problems: Architect’s Lessons. The session The Architecture of Power will examine how physical spaces embody and reinforce authority structures that shape our daily lives.
Beyond these conversations, the festival will feature immersive film screenings, hands-on workshops, expert-led walking tours, and unforgettable performances throughout historic Tbilisi.
Among other extraordinary minds this year will be award-winning documentary photographer Rena Effendi; New Yorker staff writer Ed Caesar; pediatrician Dr. Seema Jilani, who has worked in conflict zones from Afghanistan to Gaza; and filmmaker Adam Faze. Returning favorites include satirist Armando Iannucci (creator of Veep and The Death of Stalin) and Ukrainian philosopher Volodymyr Yermolenko — with many more announced in the coming weeks.
Curated by award-winning journalists and designed for anyone passionate about navigating our complex future, the ZEG Storytelling Festival creates space for the unexpected: insights that challenge assumptions, perspective shifts that inspire action, and connections that transcend borders. In Georgian, “zeg” means “the day after tomorrow” — embodying our mission to look beyond immediate horizons and craft narratives that matter for our collective future.
Tickets: http://tkt.ge/ZEGFestival
Organizers: Impact Hub Tbilisi & Coda Story
Partners: TBC Concept, UN Women, European Cultural Foundation, Coca-Cola, Cellfie, BMW, Luminate, Culture of Solidarity Fund, Setanta Sports, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, The Embassy of The Kingdom of The Netherlands in Georgia, Windfor’s, Reckless, AI Accountability Network – Pulitzer Center, Tbilisi Architecture Biennial, IRCT – International Rehabilitation Council of Torture Victims, United Against Torture, Embassy of Sweden in Georgia, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Tbilisi, Embassy of Denmark in Georgia, Adjara Group, Honore, Monkey Shoulder, Aprili Media, AT.ge.
Find more info about the festival here: https://www.zegfest.com
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