Half a century of the Festival of Dramatic Amateurs

The Cultural Center "Vojislav Bulatović-Strunjo" from Bijelo Polje recently published a monograph on the occasion of the important jubilee of this event.

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Monograph cover, Photo: Private archive
Monograph cover, Photo: Private archive
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

The monograph "50 years of the Festival of Dramatic Amateurs of Montenegro", published by the Center for Culture "Vojislav Bulatović-Strunjo" from Bijelo Polje, was recently published, and the aim is to shed light on the historical dimension of the Festival of Dramatic Amateurs and express gratitude and recognition to all the protagonists of this unique manifestation, the press release points out.

The monograph is the product of the collective work of the employees of the Bjelopolje Center for Culture, who made a special effort to collect extensive material, select the most important contents and produce the monograph as a systematic and logical whole. They believe that this year, during the Festival of Drama Amateurs of Montenegro, they will have the opportunity to officially organize the promotion of the monograph and present it to the public. The original plan was for the monograph to be an integral part of the theater jubilee celebration of the Festival of Dramatic Amateurs, which was not held due to the current epidemiological situation.

"The monograph is an attempt to see from different angles the value of the Festival of Dramatic Amateurs of Montenegro and its role in the overall evolution of theatrical life in our country. The Festival of Dramatic Amateurs of Montenegro is a kind of witness to how the enthusiasm and zeal of true theater lovers can last a long time and bear its fruits for half a century. The fact that over 400 theater performances were seen through this Festival, that thousands of amateur actors and nearly 200 directors showed their acting skills on the boards of the Festival of Dramatic Amateurs of Montenegro, and that the festival's theatrical productions were watched by tens of thousands of fans of theater art, speaks of the importance and value of the Festival of Dramatic Amateurs, but also its contribution to the overall theatrical life in Montenegro", they state from Bjelopolje CZK.

They add that the Festival was a strong foundation for the further development of theater in Montenegro and its professionalization.

"There is almost no actor in Montenegro who did not make his first acting debut at the Festival of Dramatic Amateurs of Montenegro. Among them are Žarko Laušević, Mirko Vlahović, Dragica Tomas, Mihailo Miša Janketić, Jagoš Marković, Moamer Kasumović, Dubravka Drakić, Željko Sošić, Emir Ćatović, Omar Bajramspahić, Petar Novaković and others. Of course, special credit for the life and duration of the Festival belongs to the true connoisseurs of theater art who selflessly gave themselves so that the Festival would live and survive despite the many barriers and difficulties that appeared during its 50 years of existence. Of course, Blagota Eraković has a special place in the life of this event. Not only because this excellent director and theater worker is a participant of all Festivals and its founder, but also because of the fact that he selflessly gave of himself in every year of this important cultural event", they point out.

Vasja Stanković, Trajko Jovanović, Đorđe Đurđević, Čedo Dragović, Jagoš Marković, Goran Bulajić, Gojko Burzanović, Slobodan Milatović, Džoni Hodžić, Mišo Korać, Slobodan Marunović, Dragan Koprivica, Lilijana Ivanović, Branko Kovačević contributed to the rise of the Festival of Drama Amateurs of Montenegro. , Sejfo Seferović, Milovan Ćetković, Goran Bjelanović, Dragan Knežević, Zoran Rakočević and others.

Given that the monograph covers half a century of events and achievements of Montenegrin amateurism, it represents a valuable testimony of the fifty-year duration and importance of the Festival of Dramatic Amateurs of Montenegro.

"It is also a kind of thank you note to the theater workers, enthusiasts and all those who, with selfless work and dedication, made this theater festival last for 50 years. It is thanks to them that the Festival of Dramatic Amateurs of Montenegro exists and makes a special contribution to the theater and overall cultural life of Montenegro", concludes the announcement regarding the monograph.

The project was supported and financed by the Ministry of Culture.

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