In times of crisis, people need culture the most because it heals human souls, and that is, if not more important, then certainly just as important as physical health, the director of the Festival of International Alternative Theater FIAT, director Ana Vukotić, points out for "Vijesti".
This is precisely how FIAT has been guided throughout the 35 years since its foundation - always looking for alternative approaches and methods, encouraging introspective abilities in the audience, asking questions worth living, bypassing one-way streets and confined spaces, thus always offering the kind of theatrical dialogue that society needs, but and welcome.
The Festival of International Alternative Theater - FIAT 2020 this year records another victory in its multi-year struggle for culture - it is one of the few that has not been postponed or canceled due to the well-known epidemiological situation with the corona virus pandemic in the country and the world. The event has been announced for the period from September 4 to 12 in Podgorica, and the program will be announced tomorrow, after the press conference held by the organizing team in the hall of the Cultural and Information Center "Budo Tomović".
"First of all, the FIAT team is proud that in the jubilee year - 35 years since its foundation, it managed to realize this year's edition of the festival despite all prevailing circumstances. The festival catalog will also be a kind of document about the entire process of work on its preparation. You will have the opportunity to read which plays were in the competition selection, the performances of which will not be held this year due to the pandemic, but in the period until the next festival or at FIAT 2021. The artistic council of the festival made a decision not to award prizes this year, but thanks to all the participants of the FIAT program", Director Vukotić revealed to "Vijesti".
Preparations for the implementation of FIAT were not affected by covid-19, but the entire team immediately started working on finding a solution for the sudden challenge. However, the program was significantly reduced compared to the planned one, which would have marked the great 35 years since the founding of this recognized festival. Vukotić said earlier that they were forced to cancel one show that was the backbone of FIAT, because of its large format.
Acknowledging and respecting all the prescribed measures adopted by the National Coordinating Body for Infectious Diseases, FIAT announces that they have prepared a number of interesting programs that will primarily be held outdoors and whose quality is at an enviable level. The audience can expect performances from Italy, France, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Montenegro, as well as numerous interesting literary, art, music, film and creative industries programs. Two segments of the festival - the main and supporting ones will be presented at tomorrow's conference, and Vukotić tells "Vijesti" about the preparations for the festival sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and the capital Podgorica...
"Regarding the preparations for the implementation of this year's edition of FIAT in the new situation of the covid-19 pandemic, our team immediately after the outbreak of the epidemic in our country began to adapt to the new circumstances. Namely, we immediately sent an additional public invitation to the applicants that, according to the situation, plays that can be played on open stages will be selected. Given that there was no authentic and proactive institutional response from the Ministry of Culture, the highest cultural institutions and repertory theaters, we were forced to send an inquiry and proposed measures on behalf of our organization to the Institute for Public Health of Montenegro and the NKT on July 31, 2020. for holding the FIAT 2020 edition of the festival. IJZCG and NKT accepted the set of measures that we proposed and in the shortest possible time gave us permission to continue working on the preparation of the festival. After the worsening of the epidemiological situation and the permitted increase in the number of audiences gathered at political rallies during the outdoor election campaign, on August 24 we sent a request to the IJZCG to increase the allowed number of audiences for cultural events, after which we reached a mutual agreement with the leaders of the IJZCG satisfaction in order to protect the public health of our loyal audience, guests and performers. As for the possibility of holding summer cultural festivals for us, the fact that the KotorArt Don Brankovi days of music festival is being successfully held in accordance with all valid measures of the IJZCG speaks volumes about that topic," Vukotić points out.
Last week, together with the Association of Actors of Montenegro, the Royal Theater "Zetski dom", the NGO "Prazan prostor", the Barski Ljetopis, the Coryfej Theater, she sent an initiative to adopt measures that would apply to actors and technical staff so that every theatrical event could be held without a greater risk of the emergence and spread of covid-19.
On that occasion, together with the actresses Žana Gardašević-Bulatović and Jelena Simić in front of the UGCG, she attended a meeting with the representatives of the IJZCG, prof. Dr. Boban Mugoš and Dr. Senad Begić, and an agreement was reached and certain guidelines were reached for the organization of rehearsals and performances during the pandemic, and it is certain that a larger number of spectators at theater events will be officially approved. Vukotić reminds that it is the responsibility and obligation of the organizers to protect the health of the audience, artists and organizers, but also to appeal to the importance and necessity of culture even in extraordinary circumstances.
"The theater is a dialogue and as such is necessary for every society. I believe that the social crisis we are witnessing is largely rooted in the fact that the function of culture in society is completely neglected. We are paying dearly for the price of nurturing subservience in culture, and not the spirit of rebellion, criticism and constant questioning... It is indicative that the measures for the further work of repertory theaters and theater festivals will be brought at the initiative of associated non-governmental organizations, not competent institutions", Vukotić believes. concludes:
"From the experience of the pandemic, we have to learn how important expertise, knowledge and commitment are. We have to understand that for the development of our society, we primarily need the best in their work, with the richest work biographies, experience and knowledge, and not ignorant political officials and followers who are not trained to nurture and improve the profession and profession."
Theater must insist on live contact
On the eve of the conference "Festivals in times of crisis" within KotorArt, Ana Vukotić pointed out that she "expected a lot more agility, primarily from the Ministry of Culture, and then in turn from all institutions..." when it comes to cultural events and the corona virus pandemic...
"I mean national theaters and all festivals that are financed from the state budget. I have to express great dissatisfaction with the institutional response. We are left to communicate individually with the NKT and the Institute for Public Health... I cannot ignore the fact that on June 1 we became a 'corona free' destination, that on June 1 all theaters in Montenegro were allowed to operate, and that on June 1, all repertory theaters declared a collective vacation, waiting for the second wave. That says a lot more about us, about who are the directors of the theater, who is the minister of culture, what are the professional references of those people and what is their attitude towards the work they do", said Vukotić at the time.
She pointed out that the theater must insist on live contact and communication with the audience.
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