She knows how to place every thought and word at the right moment and within the limits of a good and imaginative solution. She understands acting and theater. And that is a gift! That's why she is great!
This was stated, among other things, by the expert jury in the explanation of the Grand Prix award for the episodic female role, which deservedly went to Neli Mihailović for the role of Sofia - Soja, in the play "The Widow of a Living Man", written and directed by Dusan Kovačević, produced by the Zvezdara Theatre.
The play was performed at this year's 21st edition of the International Actor's Festival - Nikšić 2025, and Mihailović triggered audience reactions during the play, creating a great dialogue with those present, provoking laughter, dominating the scene she walked on, and at the same time authentically contributing to the ambiance of the action and collective play.
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"Questions: How to control the stage? How to control the audience? How to make colleagues on stage happy that they found themselves on stage with her? We can only look forward to witnessing witty solutions that resonate with both the audience and partners," added the jury, which consisted of: president Dara Djokic and members Slobodan Boda Ninković i Irfan Mensur.
At the award ceremony, Mihailović addressed those present with a video message.
"Dear citizens of Nikšić, dear audience, dear hosts, I'm sorry I'm not with you, obligations prevented me. Thank you to the jury, to my wonderful colleagues who made me happy and keep a smile on my face. The Festival in Nikšić, the Actor's Festival - it's all the greater an honor to receive an award. Thank you for the wonderful hospitality during my stay in Nikšić, which you offered to me and the cast of the play 'The Widow of a Living Man'. Enjoy tonight, celebrate for me too, until the next meeting," said Mihailović.
In an interview with "Vijesti", regarding the performance, and then the award, Mihailović emphasized the importance of theater for individuals and society as a whole, but also that reality has long overtaken theater in terms of what is happening.
"What we are living through, what is happening to us in Serbia, here, with you, in general in the region and globally, has surpassed even the imagination of the greatest artists, unfortunately, in a negative sense. As the subtitle of the play 'The Widow of a Living Man' says - 'Rewriting Life'... That is why this play is precious. 'Rewriting Life', but, as I said, unfortunately, life has surpassed theatre in numerous cases," she said.
For "Vijesti" she continues to share her impressions from Nikšić, but also talks about the importance of theater, art and culture. She talks about the situation and events in Serbia, with the hope that nothing similar will happen anywhere. She is grateful, admires and encourages young people who have raised their voices and are fighting for their lives and a better future.
As one of the awarded actresses at the Actor's Festival, which celebrates actors, what are your impressions and impressions of Nikšić and how important is an event of this type - in honor of theater actors and actresses?
The existence of the Festival itself is wonderful, because it is a rare festival that is specifically in honor of the actor, just like we have the “Film Encounters” festival in Niš. It is something unique in the world, such festivals are precious, and we actors love them. That is why I am additionally glad to be among the awardees. All of us actors know about this Festival, its tradition and long duration. I must point out that I have already performed on your stage, the Nikšić Theatre, although I cannot remember at all whether I was part of the Festival or a guest as part of the repertoire, but I have an image of the people of Nikšić... I believe and feel that they are special people. I simply felt a huge welcome wherever I set foot in this city - from the hotel, to the theatre and the hosts who welcomed us... I must mention, Vladan Gajevic, A man from Nikšić, my great friend and colleague from the National Theatre, knowing that I was performing, wrote me a wonderful message that said: “Please, whatever you want, even bird's milk - you will get it, in Nikšić”. I said: “Don't worry, the hospitality is on point, we have been feeling it since this morning”. It really was, and we really enjoyed your stay, in Nikšić. The festival is very nice and thank you.
The audience seemed to breathe with you during the performance of "The Widow of a Living Man"...
That's right. In addition to the excellent organization, I see a well-groomed audience, and I see a packed hall. With the above said, these are the prerequisites for a good festival. When you bring good performances, as you have, then there's nothing further.
I'm glad to hear that, especially since I'm from Nikšić. Of course, you've also been a guest at other festivals and theaters in Montenegro, mostly on the coast... Considering that you know our, but also the regional audience, what do you think, how much theater can actually shape an individual, but also society?
I think that theater, and culture in general, is the foundation of every state. Culture and education. However, without culture - I am truly deeply convinced that the state does not exist. You have intense testimony to this in Serbia as well. The country is falling apart, theaters are closing, our National Theater in Belgrade, the national theater, of which I am a member, is locked, closed. It is a tragedy - of the system that is there, the tragedy of the government, the tragedy of our people. Education is collapsing. Culture is collapsing. The foundations of every healthy society are collapsing. I keep thinking that we have hit rock bottom, but I think that we are now really very close to it. However, I think and believe that after that, we really have to go uphill.
What is the situation in Serbia, how do you see it?
Terrible things are happening. You know, not only are festivals being canceled, FEST, BITEF, you know everything. Successful people are being replaced from leadership positions in some cultural institutions. So, everything is upside down. It's terrible. That's why I said that I think the moment we live in has overtaken us, that we can no longer imagine such chaos in theater. It seems to me that if we were to transfer everything that is currently happening in our country to the theater stage, someone would say: "Come on, you've gone too far! It really can't be like that now"... It can.
Unfortunately, it can.
Yes, it can and it happens. That's why I think festivals are important, the exchange of cultural events in our region is important. Especially between Montenegro and Serbia. How would I tell you, apart from the simplest, the way I experience it and what I always say with all my heart - these are my people. On both sides, that's how I behave, that's how I feel, and that's how I always feel welcome when I'm here, in Nikšić, but also in Budva, Tivat... And I've been here for years and I'm glad that it's like that. All this will pass and we'll hang out again in some better times.
How do you survive and how to survive in such circumstances? We often have a spillover of problems in our region - when things "go wrong" in one, it happens in other countries as well... Certainly, young people who rise up in the fight for justice deserve great admiration and respect. In Serbia, in addition to young people, we also see many actors and actresses who are also engaged in the social field. That is a rarity. Public appearances are more common when there is the "backing" of a political party, which is more party and interest-based than social engagement, although there is nothing wrong with a person being a member or supporter of a political party.
Absolutely. That's right. I, who am now absolutely very engaged, I have never been or found myself in those and such circles, interests... I was simply not a member of a party, I was never interested in politics in that way, nor did I want anyone, not even those I voted for, to stand on stage and decorate their election campaign. Simply, it does not belong to me. With all due respect to everyone who has the need and who is engaged in that way. However, on the other hand..., first of all, that magical youth and young people who appeared a year ago... What can I say?! First, I felt ashamed because I was part of the majority who did not believe in these young generations, thinking that they were overwhelmed by technological progress, social networks, that they were not educated enough, that they did not read, that they only collected instant information... How wrong we were!!! And my heart is full! My heart is full that I, and that many of us, were wrong, in the end. I am the mother of a 20-year-old and 18-year-old daughter. That youth that shines in Serbia, my children are also there. And I am terribly proud of all those children. From them we now learn what courage is, what perseverance is, what strength is... It seems to me that only youth can have such strength - that they want to create a better future and a better tomorrow for themselves, that they want society, a better society, an ordinary, simple society in which laws work. That's all they're looking for. It's so little. It should be so natural.
Yes, it sounds like something basic that shouldn't be thought about much, let alone fought about. They fight. You fight.
Absolutely! They moved. Their professors also stood with them. Yes. I have to say in that order. Kudos to those professors, those people! Many of them were left without bread, without work, without dinars for their families. Many were punished for standing so persistently, and they actually proved and proved their greatness as professors by standing and standing by their students. Everything is so logical, but everything that is logical is currently undesirable there. After the professors, whom I truly admire and respect, lawyers also rose, but above all artists. But, above all, the actors. Actors and a minority of cultural workers. I wouldn't want to forget anyone, but still, first of all the actors. And what is absurd? Something is always expected of us. We are asked to go on strike - I was not in favor of the strike even when it happened, in March. Let me explain - I believe that if and when an actor goes on strike - you have taken away his basic weapon, which is to speak out from the stage. However, it was believed at that moment that the actors would be able to pull their leg, as the slang term goes, and pull everyone else to go on strike. It didn't happen. Another disappointment. But that's how it is. Actors don't give up, we work, we speak out from the stage. They closed our theater because we were disobedient and spoke out from the stage. Then they closed us - they closed the theater, but even then we managed to get people to speak out from all other Belgrade stages, but also throughout Serbia, they were saying "People are people". How can I tell you - they underestimate us, and we are much smarter than them. In this race and in this fight, I deeply believe that we will win. We just have to endure, we have to believe and endure and we will win. Everything that is happening is sad.
Let me add - there are problems everywhere, but I hope that ours will not spill over into the region in this way, because what is happening in Serbia is something that I never thought would happen to us even in my worst dreams - that our education and culture are being shut down. But it is literally being shut down, and those in power would love it the most if it could disappear completely.
What is a drive?
We have to. We have to for the sake of those children. And I would be ashamed if they. They can pull back. But we have to watch their backs.
You said that theater overtakes reality. Where do we see all of that in "The Widow of a Living Man"?
The play is an absolute picture of that society. They talk about violence, about violence in the family, about violence on the street, they talk about Nazism, they talk about the presence and appearance of the third world war. It is said that when the law does not work in the country, an individual takes matters into his own hands and that is terrible, that is the last stage. But on the other hand, there is also talk of love, love in that family, and it is that other thing that is terribly important in this play. So, no matter how much we talk about violence and the darkness of a moment in which we live, we talk about love - in the family, between father and daughter, between mother and daughter, between two people who raised that daughter, between sudden love between two women who suffered violence, between a woman and adopted children. So, love on all sides, and violence on the other side. And then the struggle to survive in it. And of course the magical, magical Dušan Kovačević who always writes like that. I also played in his "Hilarious Tragedy" - he writes plays, really, yes, in order to succeed in all the darkness and horror that we happen to receive in the audience, we have to have that other side as well.
And the other cup is love?
Yes, it's love and it's a lot of humor, captivating humor. He writes strong and vibrant characters. I enjoy playing this woman. Sometimes it seems to me, when they ask me how, that I just feel it. I always say that Kovačević writes it in such a way that it seems like I just read it and apply it to myself. Of course, not everyone can do that and always, but he is easy to play, and he always talks about and treats very difficult topics.
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