Tomorrow, June 21st at 7 PM, the Cinema Hall of the National University in Konjic will host a special event – the Graduation Concert of the Publicly Authorized Primary Music School “Rezonanca.” This traditional concert represents the culmination of students’ hard work and dedication, and holds special emotional significance for the graduates who are completing their primary music education.
The school’s director, Biljana Handžo, announced a rich and diverse program.
“Tomorrow’s concert, starting at 7 PM, is the final, graduation, and traditional concert of students from the Primary Music School ‘Rezonanca,’ as well as students from the pop-rock department. This year, the school has also introduced a Ballet Department, so visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a ballet performance as well. Although the program won’t be too long, it will be filled with high-quality musical and stage performances,” said Handžo.
Director Handžo emphasized that this has been an exceptionally active year for the school. Recently, two wonderful concerts were held – a ballet performance and a concert by the children’s choir “Rezonanca,” which she described as “the best concert so far.” According to Handžo, the independent concerts of the children’s choir allowed the graduation concert to be more focused on the graduates, easing the overall program and giving them the spotlight they deserve.
“In addition to musical performances, certificates will be awarded to all students who have successfully completed their grade, as well as diplomas to the graduates of the Primary Music School,” said school director Biljana Handžo. “The goal is to complete everything within one hour, combining the musical segment with the award ceremony, in order to showcase everything that has been achieved throughout the school year.”
“This concert carries a special emotional note, as it marks the end of the school year. The year has truly flown by – it feels like we barely had time to catch our breath,” added Director Handžo, reflecting on a busy June filled with various activities, including ballet department competitions in Mostar and Vitez, as well as the enrollment of new generations.
Although it was previously announced for 7:30 PM, the concert will begin precisely at 7:00 PM, stated Director Handžo, inviting the citizens of Konjic to attend and support the young talents.
Source of text and photos: Radio Konjic–https://radiokonjic.ba/maturalni-koncert-osnovne-muzicke-skole-s-pravom-javnosti-rezonanca-kruna-uspjesne-godine/
Five students from Konjic, studying at the Faculty of Information Technologies in Mostar, have been engaged in a project on the topic of tourism as part of their regular academic activities. First-year students Adna Mandžuka, Lamija Granulo, Ajla Potur, Enid Frašto, and Faris Boloban founded a marketing agency called Silverline Agency for the purposes of the course “Introduction to Marketing.”
“Our first client is the travel agency Travel Konjic. We began the project at the start of the summer semester, three months ago, and these are our final steps. Each of us had specific responsibilities when it came to the implementation of the project—we worked together as a team, and it wasn’t too difficult to carry out. The project is focused on network marketing, and since we’re all more or less familiar with it as users, most of it was already known to us—although it still needed to be shaped and structured,”
“We chose tourism as our focus because we’re all from Konjic, a town with great tourism potential and a lot to offer. Hiking, rafting on the Neretva River, and numerous historical sites make it an attractive destination. We believe tourism in Konjic can be developed even further. In addition, many events are organized in Konjic—such as the Konjic Summer Fest and Konjička Sehara—during which the town becomes a hub of activity,”
“Rafting on the Neretva River is not just a tourist attraction—it’s a beautiful experience that truly can’t be captured in a photo or described in words. It has to be lived,” said Adna Mandžuka, adding: “That’s why the slogan of our agency is ‘Konjic – An Adventure to Remember.'”
“Source of text and photos”: Radio Konjic –https://radiokonjic.ba/konjicki-studenti-s-fit-a-u-mostaru-promovisu-turizam-u-konjicu/
Konjic Town Days are an opportunity to showcase, through various events, that Konjic proudly preserves its tradition, art, and sense of community.
The program was officially opened on May 26 with the celebration of Family Day and the Futurea Festival. Following that, children from the Zulejha Begeta Kindergarten and the Second Primary School organized an excursion to Vrtaljica.
Tonight’s program features a Night of Ballet and Creative Dance, performed by students of the Resonance Elementary Music School. The event begins at 7:30 PM in the Cinema Hall of the National University.
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, continuing a cherished tradition, the Igman Konjic Karate Club will perform kata routines set to music at 10:00 AM on the square next to the City Administration building. Following that, at 10:30 AM, the program With Love from the Town will take place, featuring performances by children from the Happy Kids Preschool and the Zulejha Begeta Kindergarten in Konjic.
On Friday, June 13, at 2:00 PM, a formal reception will be held in the Town Administration Hall to honor the top graduates from primary and secondary schools. At 2:30 PM, another reception will recognize recipients of the Dean’s and Rector’s Awards, Silver and Gold Badges, University Commendations, and students with a grade point average of nine or higher.
Then, on June 14 at 8:00 AM, the “Borašnica on Prenj” hiking trip will take place, organized by the Borašnica Mountaineering Society.
On the same day, June 14, at 9:00 AM, the Women’s Basketball Festival will be held, organized by ŽKK Konjic.
At 8:00 PM on Saturday, June 14, the premiere of the comedy “Kvačilo Offside” by the Neretva Konjic Amateur Theatre will take place.
On Monday, June 16, at 9:00 AM, a visit to the memorial site is scheduled. At 10:00 AM, the Official Session of the Konjic Town Council will take place, followed by a ceremony at 11:00 AM in the Konjic Sports Hall. During the ceremony, special attention will be given to all those who contributed through their efforts during and after the October floods. Regarding this, the Mayor of Konjic, Osman Ćatić, states:
“Remembering everything that happened to us and the way our fellow citizens, as well as people from across Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world, responded to the disaster that struck not only the town of Konjic but also other local communities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, the goal of the city administration and myself personally is to express our gratitude to all those who stood with the people of Neretvica and Konjic during those difficult times. For this reason, as part of the Konjic Town Days, a special ceremony will be held where we will strive to thank everyone who, in any way, contributed to helping our fellow citizens during that period. Considering that during that challenging time for Konjic we were mostly on the ground working hard, we may not have recorded all the people involved, so we kindly ask everyone who was there for the town of Konjic and our fellow citizens to come forward and get in touch with us.”
On June 17, starting at 10:00 AM, the most beautiful kindergarten balcony will be selected as part of the “May Rose” project on the waves of Radio Konjic.
On Thursday, June 19, at 9:00 AM, in the Town Council’s Ceremony Hall, awards will be presented to students and mentors for their achievements in cantonal and federal competitions.
On Saturday, June 21, at 10:00 AM, Scout Meetings will take place, followed by a concert at 7:30 PM by the Resonance Elementary Music School.
The last two events are book promotions.
On Monday, June 23, 2025, at 8:00 PM, the book promotion of “Sunce rodnog kraja” by Sadik Alić will be held in the Bosnian Room of the National University. On Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 8:00 PM, the book “Semiotics of Bosnia” by Professor Dr. Sanadin Lavić will be promoted in the Bosnian Room of the National University, organized by the Bosniak Cultural Community.
According to the organizing committee, all events within the Konjic City Days festival have been tailored to reflect the developments over the past eight months in the Konjic region—a period characterized by intensive efforts to overcome the difficulties caused by the October floods, landslides, and rockfalls.
“Dear friends from the beautiful city of Konjic, you have surprised me more than once. I was amazed by the city itself — peaceful, quiet, cozy, and beautiful. I was impressed by your well-organized festival, the kindness of your people, and, last but not least, the audience who gave fantastic support to our performance. And finally, what can I say? Thank you for all the acting awards you gave us and thank you for your hospitality. We will definitely come again when you invite us!”
— Actor Branko Vidaković
Source of text and photos: Radio Konjic –https://radiokonjic.ba/program-manifestacije-dani-grada-konjica/
Boban and Drmać named Best Actors, SARTR wins Award for Best Ensemble Performance.
The winners of the 12th Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic were announced tonight. According to the audience votes, Gordana Boban was named Best Actress for her outstanding performance in the play Kiselina (Acid), a production of the Bosnian National Theatre Zenica and Scene MESS. Actress Gordana Boban shared her thoughts on the award, the play Kiselina, and the importance of ensemble work.
Boban emphasized that an award from the audience is always the most cherished, as it is a recognition that doesn’t come often.“It’s wonderful to be in Konjic, to perform in front of the Konjic audience—it’s truly a privilege to receive an award from the public. We really don’t get that kind of recognition often, which makes it all the more special and meaningful,” said Boban.The award was presented to her on behalf of the Festival’s General Sponsor, the company Bosnalijek, by Senadin Begtašević, a member of the Artistic Council of the Actor’s Festival of BiH. This is Boban’s second award at this festival—the first one was six years ago—and she hopes it won’t be the last.
She received the award for her role in the play Kiselina, which she describes as one of her favorite productions to perform in. “Kiselina is one of the dearest plays I’ve ever done, precisely because it’s like life itself copied directly onto the stage. We worked on it in a truly beautiful atmosphere,” Boban explained. She emphasized that the energy and connection created during rehearsals are now being passed on to the audience. Although emotionally demanding and intense—both for the actors and the audience—she believes the play is important and meaningful. Kiselina has already won numerous awards at other festivals, which, according to Gordana, speaks volumes about its quality.
Mario Drmać was named Best Actor at this year’s Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic for his role in the play Ne daj se, generacijo (Don’t Give Up, Generation), a co-production of the Youth Theatre Sarajevo and the association Moje pozorište (My Theatre). After receiving the award—presented on behalf of the Festival’s Partner, BH Telecom, by Selma Veledar, a business services specialist from the Telecom Directorate in Mostar—Drmać shared his thoughts and reflections on the responsibility that comes with the recognition, especially when the audience expects what he called “laughter therapy” from him.
“Well, of course it’s a big responsibility—now that you’ve told me that when the audience hears ‘Mario Drmać,’ they show up. Makes sense,” Drmać joked. “Which means I’ll have to prepare even better for next year.” Despite the light-hearted comment, he emphasized that he sees the award as something he owes to the audience, especially given his long-standing appearances in Konjic and the familiarity he has with the people there. “I truly feel a great sense of responsibility through my work, to make sure future projects are even better—more inspiring, humorous when needed, and enriched with strong dramatic elements,” he added.
SARTR (Sarajevo War Theatre) was awarded the Prize for Best Ensemble Performance.
The award for Best Ensemble Performance went to the cast of the Sarajevo War Theatre – SARTR for their play Totovi. Actors Snežana Bogićević and Sead Pandur, members of the Totovi ensemble, shared their excitement upon receiving the award at the 12th Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic. The award was presented on behalf of the Festival’s General Patron, the City of Konjic, by Biljana Handžo, Cultural Affairs and Youth Advisor for the City of Konjic. Snežana Bogićević emphasized how much the award means to them, especially because they feel like “a team that truly understands and connects with one another” after two years of performing the play. “We’re really happy that in this play, where we feel we’ve become a team that understands and senses each other so well, after two years of being on stage, we received this kind of collective recognition,” said Bogićević.She added that, even though they hadn’t performed the play in several months, once they arrived in Konjic and got back on stage, they all felt great and that “some new things came to the surface.” Even without the award, she said, they would have been fulfilled simply by the joy of performing together.
Sead Pandur highlighted that this award is especially joyful because the ensemble hadn’t received a collective performance award in quite some time—awards he considers the most meaningful. “There used to be about ten of us in the SARTR ensemble—sometimes even fewer. We’re all around the same age, and we’ve done many plays together, often receiving awards for ensemble performance. So, since it’s been a while since we last received such recognition, I have to say this award has truly uplifted and encouraged me,” said Pandur. He reminded everyone that acting is a collective art, and receiving an ensemble award from the audience in Konjic—especially at a festival that only gives out three awards (Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Ensemble)—makes the recognition all the more special.
In addition to the main awards, prizes were also presented in the Regional Program category. The award for Best Actress in the Regional Program of the 12th Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic went to Olga Odanović for her role in the play The Bald Soprano, produced by the Center for Culture Tivat and directed by Jagoš Marković.
Actress Olga Odanović shared the following message: “My heart is full because of the awards we received in Konjic, especially the one for Best Ensemble Performance for our play The Bald Soprano. This award means a lot to us because our production is truly a team effort, and we genuinely love it. All individual awards—both mine and Banet’s—belong to the entire The Bald Soprano ensemble. Thank you for breathing with us and giving us so much love; I hope you felt it from us as well, right from the stage.”
We want to commend the Actor’s Festival and its organizers! Thank you for your exceptional hospitality, enthusiasm, and effort in preserving the festival. A special thanks goes to the theatre director, Benjamin, whose stories about the Konjic theatre and his motivation to keep the festival alive truly inspired us. We wish the festival a long life, for as long as you have the strength and will to fight for its existence.
“Thank you once again for the wonderful audience and for fighting for the theatre, because as they say, ‘in the darkest times, theatre brings out the best within it.’ Take care of the Actor’s Festival! It’s needed by both you and us, and festivals like this are rare. A heartfelt thank you to everyone in Konjic for the organization, hospitality, love, and enthusiasm. Thank you!” — Actress Olga Odanović
The award for Best Ensemble Performance in the Regional Program category of the 12th Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic was given to the cast of the Center for Culture Tivat’s production The Bald Soprano, directed by Jagoš Marković. Actress Dubravka Drakić shares her impressions of the award:
“Dear friends, at the 12th Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic, the ensemble of the play The Bald Soprano, produced by the Center for Culture Tivat, received the award for Best Ensemble Performance. On behalf of Olga Odanović, Banet Vidaković, Momčilo Otašević, Branimir Popović, Sandra Bugarski, and myself, I want to sincerely thank you. Thank you for a festival that nurtures the art of acting. I would also like to thank Benjamin Mošinović for his patience and persistence in keeping this festival alive for twelve years. I wish you better conditions and greater support in future editions, and of course, I promise that we will see each other again. All the best from the heart!” — Actress Dubravka Drakić
The award for Best Actor in the Regional Program category of the 12th Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic was awarded to Branko Vidaković for his role in the play The Bald Soprano, produced by the Center for Culture Tivat and directed by Jagoš Marković.
After the award ceremony, a concert by musicians from Konjic was held in honor of the laureates.
“Dear friends from the beautiful city of Konjic, you have surprised me more than once. I was amazed by the city itself—so peaceful, quiet, cozy, and beautiful. I was impressed by your excellently organized festival, the kindness of your people, and, last but not least, the fantastic way the audience received our play. And finally, what can I say? Thank you for all the acting awards you gave us and thank you for your hospitality. We will definitely come again when you invite us!” — Actor Branko Vidaković
This year’s Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic hosted eight theatres and featured five Off programs. The honor of closing this year’s festival was given to Senadin Dino Begtašević, a member of the Artistic Council of the Actor’s Festival of BiH.
The general media sponsor of the Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina this year, once again, was Radio Konjic.
Source of the text and photos: Radio Konjic – https://radiokonjic.ba/spustena-zavjesa-na-12-festival-glumca-bih-u-konjicu-za-najbolju-glumicu-i-glumca-proglaseni-gordana-boban-i-mario-drmac/
Tonight in Konjic, the 4th Festival of Women’s Activism and Creativity “Planet ŽeNERA” was opened, organized by the Women’s Association “Nera” from Konjic. The three-day event will feature a rich and diverse program.
This year, the festival brings together women from the Netherlands, Serbia, Montenegro, and across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among the special guests are activists from Grahovo, Bosanska Krupa, and Prnjavor, as well as three women who are recipients of international awards for ecology, humanitarian work, and human rights.
The slogan of this year’s festival, “We Are Ours,” reflects its focus on solidarity.
The festival began with the play “Activism Under the Stars” by the Dignitet Association from Mostar. At the official opening, held at the City Café, an award ceremony took place, with the awards presented by Ilvana Bakoš, a member of the “Nera” Association.
Special awards were presented to women from other cities who made significant contributions in helping people in flood-affected areas. They are: Biljana Gavran (Fojnica), Dr. Alma Budim-Hondo (Jablanica), and the Croatian Cultural and Artistic Society Gromiljak (Kiseljak).
The “Nera” Association awarded the “Solidarity in Action” Plaque to Ajša Šoljić from Konjic for her initiative to protect harem cemeteries in flood-affected areas.
This year’s “Super Nera” award was presented to Amra Gakić from Konjic.
The Women’s Association “Nera” awarded the traditional “Solidarity in Action” prize to Emina Bubalo, a medical student from Konjic.
This year, the organizer awarded the “Friendship Charter” to two activists, Dženeta Agović from Tutin and Ifeta Mejremić from Konjević-Polje.
On behalf of IOM, the festival’s sponsor, coordinator Vladana Vasić emphasized in her address that many women deserve recognition.
“When we talk about the role of women in the community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it seems to me that women are the most underutilized resource and potential of society,” Vasić stated.
Elvedina Alić, President of the “Nera” Association, greeted the attendees and emphasized that it is important for women to stay connected.
“Here are the one hundred strongest women in the region. We have created an unbreakable bond among women in the region, a movement that has no name but exists nonetheless. Thank you for the miles you have traveled to be here; it is important to us because we believe that every mile is a mile of love and respect,” Alić expressed her gratitude.
During Saturday and Sunday, festival participants will organize panels in nature at the Visit Konjic Outdoor Resort, rock climbing, a visit to Tito’s bunker, a trip to Blace, informal conversations and experience exchanges among activists aimed at strengthening the women’s movement, attend film screenings, and host gatherings with poetry and a concert by Alma Abdagić.
The implementation of the feminist festival “ŽeNERA” is carried out through the project “Women Leading on the Path to Peace and Security in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” which is implemented with the support of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) in partnership with the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH. The project is led by the UN Resident Coordinator in BiH and jointly implemented by UN Women, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The festival is also supported by the Ecumenical Women’s Initiative from Omiš and the Global Fund for Women.
Source of the text and photographs: Radio Konjic–https://radiokonjic.ba/konjic-veceras-otvoren-4-festival-planeta-zenera/
Tonight, the Sarajevo War Theatre (SARTR) performed the play “Totovi,” marking the final performance of this year’s 12th edition of the Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic. “Totovi” is based on the text by István Örkény and directed by András Urbán. The play is a grotesque work with elements of satire, written by Hungarian 20th-century author István Örkény, inspired by his 1966 novella “Welcome, Major.” This theatrical piece is inspired by the horrific, yet senseless and futile fate of Hungarian soldiers on the Eastern Front in 1943. The cast includes Sead Pandur, Davor Sabo, Adnan Kreso, Hana Zrno, Ana Mia Karić, Snežana Bogićević, and Emir Fejzić.
Actor Davor Sabo, who has performed at the Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in previous years, said that they are always happy to come to Konjic.
“The audience always welcomes us warmly, and tonight they reacted excellently to our performance. We are very satisfied with our show,” Sabo said.
Speaking about the play “Totovi,” he said that the text, written 50 years ago, is still relevant today.
“Unfortunately, although the text was written a long time ago, the story is still relevant today. There are always some people oppressed in war and others who oppress them. That struggle of the little man, as portrayed in ‘Totovi’ — for freedom, for bare life — is sadly still current today, especially when we see what is happening in the world,” Sabo said.
Actor Sead Pandur said he performed tonight’s play with special enjoyment.
“We hadn’t performed the play for over three months, so we really wanted to, and tonight it was a great pleasure to be on stage with an audience that reacted wonderfully. This is indeed a comedy, more precisely a grotesque with elements of satire, brilliantly conceived by director András Urbán, together with Vedrana Božinović, who was also the dramaturg of this play. It was wonderful to work with them, especially with this cast,” Pandur said.
The closing of the 12th edition of the Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina will take place on Wednesday, June 4th, at the Chamber Stage of the People’s University of Konjic, when awards will be presented for Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Ensemble Performance.
Source of the text and photographs: Radio Konjic –https://radiokonjic.ba/fg-bih-u-konjicu-odigrana-predstava-totovi/
Konjic is getting ready for a spectacular event! From May 30 to June 1, 2025, the city will become a hub of women’s activism and creativity as it hosts the fourth edition of the Festival of Women’s Activism and Creativity – Planeta ŽeNERA. Elvedina Dina Alić, president of the Women’s Association “Nera” from Konjic, announced a rich and dynamic program, promising the biggest and most vibrant festival yet.
“The festival, which was postponed last year due to flooding, is coming back stronger than ever. With twice as many participants and a significantly increased budget, the organization is highly demanding and will take place across three different locations. I believe this will be the biggest ŽeNERA so far, with the widest impact,” emphasized Dina Alić.
This year’s edition is supported by strong international organizations such as the IOM, the Ecumenical Women’s Initiative from Omiš, and the Global Fund for Women.
The festival will open on Friday, May 30, at 6:00 PM at the Cinema Hall of the National University in Konjic, with the play “Activism Under the Stars” performed by the Dignitet Association from Mostar. Admission to the play is free, and after the performance, a Dinner for One Hundred Women and an official awards ceremony will be held at the City Café in Konjic.
“The Super Nera Award this year will be presented to Amra Gakić. Special recognition will also be given to women from other towns who made a tremendous contribution in supporting women from flood-affected areas. These include Biljana Gavran (Fojnica), Dr. Alma Budim-Hondo (Jablanica), and the Croatian Cultural and Artistic Society Gromiljak (Kiseljak). The Women’s Association ‘Nera’ will also present the Solidarity in Action award to Ajša Šoljić for her initiative to protect cemeteries in the flooded areas. The traditional Solidarity in Action award, given annually by the ‘Nera’ Association, will remain a surprise and will be announced during the official award ceremony,” said Alić.
On the second and third day of the festival, activists will spend time in nature, with a focus on returning to “authentic communication without technological aids.” On Saturday, a rich program will take place at the Visit Konjic Outdoor Resort, explained Alić.
“On Saturday, activists can look forward to the following program: outdoor activities and socializing in nature, including the opportunity for women to climb the via ferrata with support from the Konjic Mountain Rescue Service. There will be a panel discussion on women’s mental health during the floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a tour of Tito’s Bunker, and a screening of the film ‘Kitchens and Wars’ by Bojana Minović from Serbia, which portrays women’s resilience after disasters. The day will also feature the performance ‘Coffee with Anti-Fascist Women’ by Maja Vasić, a prominent activist from Novi Sad; ‘Story Circles’, safe spaces for informal conversation and experience-sharing among activists, aimed at strengthening the women’s movement; and an evening program around the campfire with poetry readings and a performance by singer-songwriter Alma Abdagić.”
“Sunday is reserved for Blace,” Alić added.
“After a morning ‘laughter therapy’ session with Senka and Nina, a safari jeep tour to Blace will follow for a group of 60 people. An organized picnic in nature will take place, along with the presentation of the book ‘Feminism Through Time’ by Jadranka Miličević, the most renowned Bosnian-Herzegovinian activist. The festival will close at 6:00 PM. This year’s festival slogan, ‘We Are Ours,’ perfectly reflects its focus on solidarity. The festival covers travel expenses for all participants and represents a blend of activism, culture, health, and solidarity,” said Elvedina Dina Alić, president of the Women’s Association ‘Nera’ Konjic.
This year’s Planeta ŽeNERA Festival will host women from the Netherlands, Serbia, Montenegro, and across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among the special guests are activists from Grahovo, Bosanska Krupa, and Prnjavor, as well as three women who are recipients of global awards for ecology, humanitarian work, and human rights.
Source of text and photos: Radio Konjic –https://radiokonjic.ba/konjic-u-znaku-zenskog-aktivizma-sutra-se-otvara-4-festival-planeta-zenera/
The Bosnian National Theatre Zenica and Scena MESS performed tonight at the Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic with the multi-award-winning play “Acid”, based on a text by Asja Krsmanović and directed by Nermin Hamzagić.The cast—Gordana Boban, Mirvad Kurić, Selma Mehanović, and Benjamin Bajramović—captivated the Konjic audience with their outstanding performances. “Kiselina” explores deep and complex family relationships, interwoven with love, sorrow, fear, and loneliness. The play also addresses the topic of death and the loss of loved ones, while offering a sense of hope for new beginnings in life.
According to actor Mirvad Kurić, the play “Kiselina” aims to encourage the audience to reflect and think deeply.
“We, too, did a lot of thinking during the rehearsal process. It wasn’t easy for us to work on a piece like this—it’s emotionally very heavy, intense… The essence of theater is that, after watching a play, you truly ask yourself: Am I doing the right thing? Could I have treated my mother, sister, brother better or differently? If we managed to spark those kinds of questions in the audience tonight, then we’ve succeeded,” said Kurić.
Actor Benjamin Bajramović performed for the first time in front of the Konjic audience tonight and said that he found the experience very enjoyable.
“The festival is great, and every city has its own audience with subtle differences. Tonight was my first time experiencing the Konjic audience, and they are very warm and pleasant,” said Bajramović. Speaking about the play, he added that its significance lies in the universality of the story.
“The universality of this play lies in the fact that everyone who watched it tonight has lost someone, and has processed that loss emotionally—or perhaps hasn’t, it depends—because everyone deals with loss in their own way. And no matter how universal that experience is, each loss is still deeply personal. The main strength of the play is that it emotionally ‘hits’ the viewer,” said Bajramović.
The final performance at this year’s Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina will take place on Monday, June 2, featuring the Sarajevo War Theatre – SARTR with the play “The Tots.”
The closing ceremony and the awards for Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Ensemble Performance will be held on June 4 at the Chamber Stage of the National University in Konjic.
Source of text and photos: Radio Konjic –https://radiokonjic.ba/fg-bih-predstava-kiselina-osvojila-srca-konjicke-publike/
The play “Ćelava pjevačica”, produced by the Center for Culture Tivat from Montenegro, delighted the audience in Konjic this evening at the Festival of Actors of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This acclaimed production has won numerous awards at various festivals and is considered one of the most sought-after plays in the region. Thanks to the longstanding international cooperation between the City of Konjic and the Municipality of Tivat — a sister-city relationship nurtured for over five decades — the people of Konjic had the opportunity to enjoy this outstanding performance.
Goran Božović, Director of the Center for Culture Tivat, expressed his satisfaction with participating in the Festival of Actors of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic.
“It is a great honor and pleasure for us to have brought this masterpiece, directed by Jagoš Marković, to Konjic. The play has conquered the region in a competitive sense, having won 32 awards at eleven festivals so far, and is among the most awarded theatre productions in Montenegrin history,” said Božović.
The play “Ćelava pjevačica”, the latest piece directed by Jagoš Marković, is based on the text by French-Romanian author Eugène Ionesco. Marković created a new version of the play, relocating the action from London to the Bay of Kotor, setting it in the apartment of a noble family from Kotor. The entire script was translated into the Boka dialect. The cast — Olga Odanović, Branko Vidaković, Dubravka Drakić, Momčilo Otašević, Sandra Bugarski, and Branimir Popović — delivered an outstanding performance, which was met with a prolonged round of applause from the Konjic audience.
Actor Momčilo Otašević, who was participating in the Konjic festival for the first time, especially praised the hospitality he experienced during his stay in Konjic.
“It was wonderful to perform, as it always is, because we approach this play with a lot of love. I hope the audience enjoyed it and appreciated our performance. The hospitality here is outstanding, as are the mutual love and respect,” said Otašević.
With her outstanding performance, actress Olga Odanović particularly impressed the audience. “Ćelava pjevačica” holds a special place in her heart, as it is the last theatre production directed by Jagoš Marković, with whom she collaborated on 23 plays throughout her acting career.
“For us, ‘Ćelava pjevačica’ is a celebration and a deeply meaningful act. We were all close friends of Jagoš, and he loved working with people he knew well. The six of us in the cast live and work in different cities—Podgorica, Belgrade, Zagreb—but when it comes to ‘The Bald Soprano,’ we always respond immediately to any invitation to perform,” emphasized Odanović.
Actress Sandra Bugarski did not hide her satisfaction with the successful performance in Konjic and the audience’s reactions.
“The audience was breathing with us tonight. Just as they watch and evaluate us, we also feel their reactions — and tonight, they were truly wonderful,” said Bugarski.
Source of text and photos: Radio Konjic – https://radiokonjic.ba/fg-bih-predstava-celava-pjevacica-odusevila-konjicane/
The play “Sjećanje vode”, produced by the Croatian National Theatre Mostar, was performed this evening at the Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic. The production, based on the text by Shelagh Stephenson, was directed by Croatian director Nina Kleflin. The cast included Jelena Kordić-Kuret, Nikolina Marić, Ana Franjčević, Mirela Kordić, Ivo Krešić, and Robert Pehar.
The play tells the story of three sisters who reunite in their childhood home on the eve of their mother’s funeral. Through their conversations and memories, the audience is introduced to complex family relationships, hidden secrets, forgotten emotions, and unspoken truths. Actress Anja Franjčević, for whom this was the second appearance at the Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Konjic, believes that the play is multilayered and explores a wide range of themes.
“There are so many themes we actually touch on—memory, forgetting, childhood traumas that go on to define us later in life. We also explore the functionality of the family, the complicated relationship with the mother, and ultimately, we show that all of us are just little children trapped in grown-up bodies, longing for attention, love, and care,” said Franjčević, adding that each of the three sister characters is unique in her own way.
“I play the youngest sister. What characterizes my role is that she constantly feels excluded from her own family. She has found a way to channel all her childhood traumas by forgetting—through drug use. She is quite emotionally dependent on other people and experiences major breakdowns,” Franjčević emphasized.
Actor Ivo Krešić expressed positive impressions following the performance in Konjic.
“We had a wonderful evening, as the devoted audience in Konjic followed the play closely and rewarded us with a big round of applause at the end. We always have a great experience when we come to Konjic,” said Krešić.
The repertoire of the Actor’s Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina continues on Sunday, May 25, at 7:30 PM, with the performance of “Ćelava pjevačica” by the Center for Culture Tivat.
Source of text and photos: Radio Konjic–https://radiokonjic.ba/festival-glumca-bih-odigrana-predstava-sjecanje-vode/