The Belgrade International Theatre Festival (BITEF) did not take place this year. The independently organised NE:BITEF festival was held in its place between 15-18 December as a gesture of defiance.
Despite the festival taking place outside the institutional framework he Grand Prix award was symbolically presented to actor Milena Radulović for her role in The Pelicot Trial by Croatian dramaturg Jasna Žmak, last year’s BITEF Grand Prix laureate, who decided to pass on her own award to Radulović. Explaining her decision, Žmak departed from the traditional format of jury statements, directly addressing the actress: “I know that award explanations are usually longer, but BITEF is usually longer as well, so I will shorten mine and say only this: Milena, I admire your courage and perseverance. It is an honour to be able to present this award to you, and I hope I will soon have the opportunity to congratulate you in person, though I hope even more that justice will reach Belgrade before I do,” Žmak concluded.
The Grand Prix recognises Radulović’s performance in The Pelicot Trial, a piece directed by Milo Rau about the mass rape case in France. Radulović said the award hit her straight in the heart and expressed her deep gratitude to Žmak, emphasising the importance of solidarity among artists and the symbolic weight of the recognition.
This year’s ne:Bitef was organised as a self-initiated alternative to Bitef, which did not occur in Belgrade due to unresolved institutional, financial, and governance issues. A collective of theatre professionals, curators, and performers established ne:Bitef to ensure the festival’s continuity and uphold its core values, under the slogan Bitef is where we gather. ne:Bitef featured performances and discussions at various independent venues, initially envisioned within the curatorial framework of Bitef. The festival positioned itself as both an artistic event and a statement of resistance, asserting that BITEF’s legacy lies in freedom, critical thinking and collective presence rather than in formal institutional frameworks.
By awarding its Grand Prix to Milena Radulović, ne:Bitef not only highlighted an individual artistic achievement but also reaffirmed its commitment to courage, persistence and justice within the cultural field.
For more information, visit: nebitef202.rs
Further reading: Resistance, repression and solidarity on the streets and stages of Serbia
Divna Stojanov is a dramaturg and playwright. She writes mainly for children and young people.
