Our monthly 'Meet the Haymaker' series shares stories of the change-makers at the heart of Hay Festival Global and the impact it has had on their lives. This month, get to know Sofia Cheliak, director of Lviv BookForum.
What does Hay Festival Global mean to you?
I have followed Hay Festival for many years. I was a fan of the project, so I couldn't imagine that Lviv BookForum would one day become an official partner.
What’s your favourite Festival memory?
I still remember clearly the moment the Hay Festival team agreed to our partnership. It was the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and our friends at ZINC Network told me over Zoom. It took a while to sink in – I couldn't believe that this organisation I had followed for years would become our partner. The conversation was delightful, and we agreed to cooperate – the minute after the Zoom ended, I was ecstatic!
Have you ever changed your mind on something, having been to a Hay Festival event?
Taking part in my first Hay Festival event in Hay-on-Wye was a big deal for me, especially after living some time in a bubble, following the frontline news, and receiving a notification about the death of close people. After a long journey from Ukraine, I found myself in a really happy place full of ideas and feelings about the future. Sometimes I forget that there is another bright life, but being at Hay Festival is a chance to remember for a short time how it is to live a full life.
Who was the best speaker or performer you saw on a Hay Festival stage?
I was pleased to meet Maria Ressa, I admire her so much.
But I have a personal connection to one event in particular. My late best friend Victoria Amelina, who was killed by a Russian attack last year, was participating in Hay Festival Cartagena de Indias. I was in the audience. Listening to her thoughts and arguments, I realised how smart she really is. Over time you begin to take close people for granted, but Victoria's event in January 2023 allowed me to see her objectively. And I fell in love with her intelligence and empathy in a new way.
What advice do you have for a first-timer at the Festival?
It is good to read the program, on the one hand, and on the other, to relax and trust fate, which can lead to very random events – but necessary for you.
Sum up Hay Festival Global in five words or less…
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