The Side Step 2026 festival program will feature a panel discussion on the final festival day. Three arts professionals from three different fields will reflect on the festival program from their own perspectives.
Panel Discussion: Side Step 2026 from three points of view
Time and place: Sat 7.2. klo 16:00–18:00, The Cable Factory's Coffee Bar
The discussion will be held in English.
On the final day of the festival, an English-language panel discussion will be held, reflecting on and exploring the works seen and experiences shared during the festival. The panel brings together three artists from different artistic fields and at different stages of their careers: artist and performer Moe Mustafa, actor, musician and activist Elsi Sloan and stylist Minttu Vesala.
In the discussion, they will examine the festival’s performances through the lens of their own artistic practices. The conversation will be facilitated by choreographer and Sivuaskel Festival co-curator Peter Mills.
Photo: Susanna Vento
Moe Mustafa was born in Kuwait in 1985 to Palestinian parents, brought up in Jordan, and is currently based in Finland. Moe is a visual and sound artist, performer, and writer with an MA in Art and Media from Aalto University.
His work spans text, sound, and performance, often focusing on themes of identity, memory, sexuality, and diaspora. Moe’s recent projects include Mascu-Fuck, a performance commissioned by Kiasma in 2023, and A Floating Body of Cloud, an audio essay exploring environmental sound and diasporic identity, commissioned by YLE and set for release in 2025.
His work investigates the intersections of sound, politics, and emotion, with a focus on queer Arab experiences. Moe’s practice often questions the dynamics of belonging and desire, creating evocative narratives that challenge societal norms.
Photo: JIRINA
Elsi Sloan is an actor and musician who gives plenty of fucks and can barely sleep at nights.