We are thrilled to unveil the exciting program for the 57th edition of the Belgrade International Theater Festival (BITEF).
Mark your calendars for a spectacular week of cultural immersion as BITEF takes place from the 3rd to the 10th of October 2023. This year’s festival dates are slightly later than in previous years, offering a unique opportunity to experience Belgrade in a different season.
Under the banner “Snago, ne pristaj da budeš nečija,” the 57th edition marks the debut of our new Artistic Director, Nikita Milivojević. He assumed this role earlier this year, succeeding the esteemed theatre critic and scholar Ivan Medenica, who admirably served as BITEF’s artistic director for the past seven years.
Milivojević, along with a dedicated co-selector team, including BITEF producer Ksenija Đurović and dramaturg Tijana Grumić, has been diligently curating this year’s festival. They bring diverse interests and expertise to the table, with Đurović focusing on the dance scene and Grumić on dramatic theatre.
The 57th edition’s program boasts a selection of nine performances, comprising three domestic and six international productions. In the spirit of continuity, we retain some of the structural elements established during Medenica’s tenure.
As tradition dictates, the festival will commence with an out-of-competition “Prologue” performance. This year’s prologue, scheduled for the 3rd of October, promises an epic experience with Frank Castorf’s five-hour rendition of The Divine Comedy, produced by Belgrade Drama Theatre.
The grand opening of the 57th edition of BITEF will feature “Children of the Sun,” an adaptation of Maxim Gorky’s work, directed by Slovenian director Mateja Koležnik. This Schauspielhaus production will grace the stage at the Yugoslav Drama Theatre.
On the 5th of October, don’t miss “Goodbye, Lindita,” a production by the young director Mario Banoushi for the National Theater of Greece from Athens. The National Theater in Belgrade will be hosting this remarkable performance.
October 6th will treat audiences to “All Adventurous Women Do,” a presentation by Tanja Šljivar and director Selma Spahić on the main stage of Atelje 212.
Prepare for a Hungarian masterpiece, “Singing Youth,” authored by Judit Berec, Bence Gyorgy Palinkas, and Mate Sigeti, produced by Trafo House of Contemporary Arts from Budapest. This exceptional production will be showcased on the 6th and 7th of October.
On October 7th and 8th, immerse yourself in the contemporary opera “Sun and Sea in Kalemegdan,” which originally premiered in 2017 at the Lithuanian National Gallery of Art and earned the prestigious “Golden Lion” at the Venice Biennale.
Closing the festival on the 8th of October is “The Desire to Make Solid History Will End in Failure,” by author and choreographer Igor Koruga, presented by Bitef Theater.
The final two performances will feature “Joan of Arc – Jeanne,” by the Croatian author Ivana Sajko, directed by Anja Suša, a production of the Riksteatren Theater and Dramaten in Sweden. Also, “Wakatt,” an offering from author and choreographer Serge Aimé Coulibaly of Faso Dance Theater, will conclude the festival. Please note that the venues for these last two performances will be announced shortly.
Join us in celebrating the vibrant world of theater at the 57th BITEF, where culture, creativity, and artistry converge in the heart of Belgrade. We look forward to sharing this remarkable journey with you.
Tickets and the program are available on the website: https://festival.bitef.rs/en?lang_type=eng
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