Culture
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Cabaret by SMG, one of the competing performances.
Film and Theatre
Slovene Film and Performing Arts on Display
22.10.2007
Two prestigious annual reviews of Slovene art are taking place in October. Film buffs get to see this year’s Slovene film production at the Slovene Film Festival in Portorož. In the mean time, the cream of Slovene theatre production is staged at Borštnikovo srečanje (the Borštnik Gathering) in Maribor.
The Slovene film festival that started on 7th October mirrors the condition of the Slovene film industry – especially this year. Despite the rich program – the festival screens a decent number – 61 – films, among them 40 new Slovene films – the atmosphere was rather bitter than sweet, as Jože Dolmark, the selector of the festival has put it.
The competitive program features eight full-length films, two middle-length films and ten short films that include feature, documentary and animated films. The latter are a welcomed novelty of the festival. The festival has also opened for foreign films. The European Dialogs category, coordinated by Goethe Institute, features 16 interesting productions from Europe. The festival has the richest program in its short history. However, all is not as bright as it seems.
The reason for the bitterness is in the fact that there are no new Slovene films in production. What’s more, it is still not clear, which films will be funded by the state, which is the only way one can make a full-length film in the Slovenia. Lack of transparency, inefficiency, and corruption are only some of the defects the filmmakers see in the current establishment. The fact is that the problem of Slovene film split the professional and general public. The festival is therefore marked with boycott and symbolic protest.
The filmmakers and producers blame the Slovene Film Fund for the situation, especially the directors of the fund Igor Prodnik and Stane Malčič. The Association of Slovene Filmmakers has even prevented them from attending the festival. Igor Koršič, the president of the association has stated that they simply do not trust them anymore, and that they should resign. Empty front seats at the festival and an installation depicting the “Funeral of Slovene Film” (produced by Minister of Culture Vasko Simonitti and directed by the above-mentioned directors of the Film Fund) were also a part of the protest.
Minister Simonitti, who opened the festival, expressed his wish to calm the situation and reach an appropriate solution. A small market and limited state funds that define the Slovene film industry demand a consensus. In his speech, he also promised a new law on film and invited all interested parties to cooperate. However, the revolt of the Slovene film scene probably does not benefit the minister, who has promised that the Slovene film industry will flourish.
42nd Borštnikovo Srečanje
Borštnikovo srečanje showcases and evaluates the finest achievements of Slovene theatre. The festival is the oldest (since 1965) and most prestigious in Slovenia. A total of 17 Slovenian productions, including 11 that will compete for the prestigious award – Borštnik’s Ring, will be put on stage as part of the event that gets underway on 12th October and runs until 24th October.
This year’s competition programme will feature five productions by Ljubljanska Drama, the city’s main theatre company: Molier’s “The Imposter” directed by Dusan Jovanović, Ivan Canakar’s “Romantic Souls” by Sebastijan Horvat, Eugen Labiche’s “La Cagnotte” by Marti Kusej, Ivo Svetina’s “Oedipus in Corinth” by Ivica Buljan and Jean Genet’s “The Maids” directed by Diego de Brea.
The Prešernovo gledališče of Kranj is to appear with two plays: Martin Crimp’s “The Country” directed by Eduard Miler and Gregor Strniša’s “Frogs” by Jaka Ivanc, while Mestno gledalisce ljubljansko, another outfit from Ljubljana, will put on the play “Cabaret” by Masteroff, Kande and Ebb. The competition section also includes Miroslav Krleža’s “Gospoda Glembajevi” directed by Dušan Jovanović and staged by SNG Nova Gorica, Badalucca’s, Medioli’s and Visconti’s “Twilight of the Gods” by Diego de Brea put on by Slovensko mladinsko gledališče, and the Betontanc and Umko.LV Show coproduction “Show Your Face” by Matjaž Pograjc and staged by Zavod Bunker.
The fringe programme, which includes six performances, will be headlined by the reconstruction of legendary Slovenian play “Pupilija, papa Pupilio pa pupilčki” as directed by Janez Janša, formerly Emil Hrvatin, put on stage by Zavod Maska. Make no mistake: the Janez Janša in question is not the Slovene prime minister, but one of three Slovene artists, who formally changed their names to match it.
As with last year, the festival focuses on social themes. However, instead of depicting marginalisation and deprivation, it pays attention the middle class. Marjan Bogataj, the outgoing selector of the festival ensures that Slovene theatre is in good shape.