December 10–12, 2024 – The Forum of Slavic Cultures (FSK), with the support of the Slovenian Book Agency (JAK), organized the 3rd Festival of Slavic Literatures. Following the successful production of Miroslav Krleža’s salon drama In Agony, staged in the historical setting of Vila Zlatica and co-produced by the Association and FSK, this year’s festival focused on drama, contemporary Slavic playwriting, its staging, and the exploration of the relationship between prose and drama. For FSK, as the publisher of the 100 Slavic Novels series, which this year reached its 100th book, it is particularly significant to investigate the interplay between prose and drama and their ability to transcend traditional forms.
The festival opened with a panel titled Thespis’ Balkan Crossroads, moderated by Mladen Vesković, editor of the 100 Slavic Novels series. Panelists Miloš Latinović, director of the Bitef Theater, Bitef Festival and writer; Rok Bozovičar, theater critic and acting director of the Prešeren Theater in Kranj; and Ivica Buljan, director, explored the distinctive features of theater and literature in Southeast Europe. They once again confirmed that theater consistently succeeds in overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers, while art erases boundaries.
The relationship between prose and dramatic works today—whether prose texts or stage performances attract more attention—and how new media influence literary genres and forms were discussed by Vlaho Bogišić, an expert on Krleža’s works; Aleksandar Gatalica, writer; and Miloš Latinović, writer and theater director.
The closing evening featured a dynamic discussion about classic dramatic works and their contemporary interpretations. Participants included Nina Šorak, director of the play In Agony; Boris Mihalj, actor; and Vlaho Bogišić, lexicographer and expert on Krleža’s works. The panelists agreed that the play In Agony, performed 50 times, stood out for its intimacy and modern approach. As director Nina Šorak stated, “It was precisely the intimate setting that allowed the play to more closely depict the internal transformation of the protagonists.”
Through its discussions and cultural dialogue, the festival fostered constructive conversations on emerging topics and connected Slavic literary and theatrical creativity.
