The Hartefakt House has announced the 14th competition for the best contemporary engaged full-length drama text in Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Slovenian, Macedonian, or Montenegrin languages. The competition is open to authors residing in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, and North Macedonia. Last year’s winner was Mirza Skenderagić with the play “Throw it, Putin, be precise,” which was publicly read and directed by Ognjen Dragović. The competition aims to encourage dialogue on important social issues such as human rights, freedom of speech, collective memory, and responsibility. The jury includes prominent dramaturges from the region, including Nejra Babić Halvadžija, Gordana Goncić, and Biljana Srbljanović. The competition offers new authors the opportunity to present their engaged drama texts and win a monetary prize.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets emphasize the competition’s role in promoting social justice, human rights, and freedom of speech. They highlight the importance of the contest in fostering critical dialogue on collective memory and responsibility, and support for new voices in the arts that challenge societal norms.
Center: Center-leaning sources focus on the cultural significance of the Hartefakt competition as a platform for regional authors to showcase contemporary drama. They stress the inclusivity of the contest across multiple languages and countries, and the professional recognition it offers to emerging playwrights.
Right: Right-leaning perspectives may highlight the competition’s encouragement of national and regional cultural expression, emphasizing the importance of preserving language and tradition. They might also focus on the competition’s role in supporting artistic excellence and the development of local talent.
