Performance The Extermination, directed by the young German director of Turkish origin, Ersan Mondtag, played in the National Theatre in Belgrade, marked the end of 51st Bitef under the slogan Epic Trip.
Having seen the six-hour-long Quizoola!, which announced this year’s festival, then the 24-hour-long performance Mount Olympus, by the Flemish director Jan Fabre which opened Bitef and, after that the no less glamorous The Bible, The First Attempt, Kingdom of Heaven, Snow, Hearing, the audience had a chance to see the artists from Great Britain, Belgium, Slovenia, Serbia, Germany, Iran and Switzerland.
The international jury - Maria Shevtsova (the president), Margaret Sörenson, Ivana Sajko, Draško Adžić and Igor Koruga - announced their decision at the restaurant „Papalada“ in Belgrade.
The Grand Prix Mira Trailović for the best performance was given to Mount Olympus: to Glorify the Cult of Tragedy, directed by the famous Flemish director Jan Fabre.
The special prize „Jovan Ćirilov“ was given to Amir Reza Koohestani’s performance Hearing.
In front of those who supported Bitef, Srđan Šaper, the founder of I&M McCann Group, announced the audience award - with 4.73%, it is Mount Olympus. In his address, Srđan Šaper stated: „This year’s Epic Trip assured us once again of the important role Bitef plays as a promoter of Belgrade as a theatre centre but also as a place which gathers people of different opinions, free spirit, and new theatre trends. I am glad we supported Bitef this year, as did everyone who bought the tickets, and I’m glad we saw wonderful theatre plays and voted for the best performance. Bitef has always been the symbol of Blegrade, and all of us who follow and support it guarantee it will remain so.”
The “Politika” jury - Batić Bačević, the editor of “Politika” culture section, Ana Tasić, theatrologist and theatre critic at Politika, Borka Golubović Trebješanin, the director and the founder of DAH theatre, have reached a unanimous decision to give this year’s 40th Politika Prize for the best directing to Jan Fabre for his Mount Olympus.
The jury, Bitef guests, journalists and the Bitef team enjoyed the atmosphere at the closing party held in the restaurant “Papalada”, with the music by “Soul Kitchen” band.
Traditionally, Bitef was supported by the Secretariat of Culture of the City of Belgrade and the Ministry of Culture and Information of Serbia. They were this year joined by the sponsor I&F McCann Group. The support was also given by Coca Cola Hellenic Serbia, IT Company Telegroup and Telecom Serbia. The importance of Bitef was this year also recognized by MAXI Supermarkets, UniCredit Bank, TV5Monde, TESLA, DM Drogerie markt Serbia, Forma Ideale, and many others.
This was an excellent Bitef Trip!
See you at 52nd Bitef 2018!
