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Traces is his latest project, closely related to one of the dominant themes of Bitef, which focuses on environmental issues as well as the consequences of the natural disasters for which we are responsible.
At the opening conferencier Miloš Milovanović welcomed ambassadors, representatives of the City of Belgrade, the festival's founder, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, the audience, journalists, critics, as well as the festival's guests, who include artists, philosophers, activists and theorists from almost every corner of the globe, stating that we could not have imagined that the festival would be held under conditions that are more complicated than last year's.
The festival was declared open by celebrated Serbian actress and environmental activist Svetlana Ceca Bojković, who also pointed out that we have reached the red alarm for all of humankind due to the threat of climate change, pollution, destruction of the ecosystem and great threat of a natural cataclysm of global proportions. She said that on top of all that, the COVID-19 pandemic appeared, one of the causes of which she believes is the disruption of the ecosystem. She pointed out that this year's Bitef, in its fused double edition, focuses precisely on the most urgent ecological and related problems of today, which are both global and local.
The realisation of this year's festival was backed by the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, in honour of which a cocktail and exhibition, Nature in Positive, were organized at the EU Info Centre. The attendants were addressed by Bitef artistic director Ivan Medenica and the new Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret, who said:
"We have a lasting collaboration with Bitef that we will hopefully continue over the years. The slogan of this year edition On the edge of future is very important because it's treating topics such as climate changes and biodiversity lost, that are serious threats that should be highlighted. The EU is at the forefront of this debate and is resolute not only to see it as a threat but a also to act to collectively overcome it, with Serbia and the world. And it is great that festivals like BITEF engage also in this debate because culture and creativity have a crucial role to play."
The official ceremony was attended by many public figures from the cultural, public and political sphere, as well as from the diplomatic corps. These included: Ivan Karl, City of Belgrade Secretary for Culture, Danijela Vanušić, Assistant Minister for Cultural Heritage and Digitalization, Koenraad Adam, Ambassador of Belgium, Nikolaus Lutterotti, Ambassador of Austria, Raul Molina, Ambassador of Spain, Carlo Lo Cascio, Ambassador of Italy, Sian MacLeod, Ambassador of Great Britain, Petko Doykov, Ambassador of Bulgaria, Paul-Henri Presset, EU Delegation, Beka Vučo, Stanislas Pierret, director of the French Institute in Serbia, Adrien Feix, director of the Austrian Cultural Forum, Milan Lučić, British Council, Roberto Cincotta, director of the Italian Cultural Centre in Belgrade, Mirjana Nikolić, rector of the University of Arts in Belgrade, Aleksandra Kosanović, Erste Bank, Jasmina and Milan Knežević, Bel Medic, Suzana Đorđević, Hemofarm Foundation.
TICKET SALES
Tickets are available through the website www.bitef.rs. Online purchase receives 10% discount. If unable to make online purchase, you can buy the tickets at Bitef BOX OFFICE in Kombank dvorana, on the first floor (Nikola Pašić Square). Contact: [email protected], +381 69 899 24 00
Box office working hours:
From 13th - 25th September: 11am - 3pm daily, and one hour before each performance at the venue box office.
Payment method at the box office:
• Cash
• Payment through bank transfer (pro-forma invoice issued at the request of the beneficiary)
Covid-19 unforeseen circumstances and the right to changes
Bitef programme is organized in compliance with all coronavirus protection measures. The number of tickets released for sale is in line with the current epidemic situation and current protection measures. In case of an unfavourable situation and change of measures, Bitefreserves the right to change the programme and conditions determined when buying tickets. There may be changes in the numbering of purchased tickets or cancellation of tickets with a refund. All possible changes will be published on the festival's website and social networks.
We appeal to a high level of individual responsibility and solidarity of each person and we count on your understanding and patience, so that we can all be safe and secure.
The festival is traditionally supported by the City of Belgrade Secretariat for Culture and the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia, the Goethe Institute, and the French Institute in Belgrade. Once again, this year Bitef’s partner and friend is I&F Group, within which the festival’s creative agency McCann Belgrade operates. The partners yet again are Erste Bank a.d. Novi Sad and long-standing friend of the festival Coca-Cola Hellenic Serbia.
