Why go
The National Theatre in Belgrade and Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad provide starting points for exploring the stage. BITEF connects Belgrade with international theatre, while Sterijino pozorje focuses on national drama. These distinctions help narrow a cultural evening by interest rather than by the nearest theatre building.
The full story
Modern Serbian theatre is associated with Joakim Vujić, while the names Jovan Sterija Popović and Branislav Nušić connect audiences with the country's dramatic writing. Dušan Kovačević and Biljana Srbljanović extend that literary context into more recent work. Looking for a playwright's name in a programme can therefore be as useful as recognising the institution. Film offers another route into this cultural history. Emir Kusturica's When Father Was Away on Business and Underground won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1985 and 1995. Directors such as Dušan Makavejev, Goran Paskaljević and Goran Marković broaden the picture beyond those two films. The Yugoslav Film Archive preserves a wider regional film heritage, giving cinema enthusiasts an institutional name to investigate alongside individual directors and titles.
Useful to know
- Check the theatre or festival's official programme and performance language before selecting an evening.