Kikinda Short

Participant of “Kikinda Short” Craig Taylor listed among the most influential people in the world in 2011.

Photo: Edi Matić

London – The magazine “Time Out” published a traditional a list of ten names in choose of the editorial board that proved them selves to be the most inspiring ones in the last year. Beside Steve Jobs and Placido Domingo there is a participant of the last years short story festival “Kikinda Short” Craig Taylor. Editors felt that among a variety of quality writers who have published books this year in Britain, a collection of monologues “Londoners” occupies a privileged place. The book is designed as a set of monologues of ordinary people who want to express their feelings, hopes, or anger. The jury felt that the book was a hit that properly reflects the recession and Internet addiction.

Craig Taylor is born in Canada but he attached his writing career to the UK. Although he wrote for magazines such as “New York Times” and Canadian “Globe and Mail”, he has published fiction in English “Grant”, while his plays were printed on backpacks that were awarded to the winners of the Cannes festival.

Stories translated into Serbian are published in a collection of stories from the fifth festival “Kikinda Short”.

Photo: Edi Matić

Link for the news source is here

Kikinda Short 06

From  June 28th to  July 3rd 2011, the sixth international festival of short stories KIKINDA SHORT was held in Kikinda and Belgrade, organized by the Association “Kikinda Short”. This year, 23 authors from 18 countries performed at the Festival making it the largest number of participants, countries and different languages ​​so far. The organizors brought many writers from countries that have not participated in the Festival till now (Czech Republic, Italy, Norway and Portugal) to Serbia, but also a number of authors whose works have already been translated into Serbian (Norminton, Rudis, MacLaverty).

The festival was opened by Minister of Culture, media and information society in the Republic of Serbia Government, Predrag Markovic, in a crowded garden of the National Library “Jovan Popovic” in Kikinda. On June 29th, thirteen authors presented their stories to Kikinda audience. Reading was opened by Shan Melangel Dafid from Wales, a Special Guest Country this year, followed by the stories of Mica Vujicic (Serbia – Host of the Festival), Ulrike Almut Zandih (Germany), Tomaz Kosmac (Slovenia), Julia Kiraly King (Romania), Thijs de Boer (Netherlands), Kallia Papadaki (Greece), Zarko Kujundziski (Macedonia), Evie Wyld (England), Bjarte Breiteig (Norway), Éric Gauthier (Canada), Gregory Norminton (Scotland) and Jelena Lengold (Serbia) – Surprise Guest at this year’s election of Critic-writer Jasmina Vrbavac. Informal meeting with the authors continued at the concert of Kikinda band Drvo truo up to 2 hours after midnight.

The Word of the Minister

”Kikinda Short” for longevity of culture

Kikinda, June 29th 2011

Minister Predrag Markovic opened the 6th International Festival of Short Story ”Kikinda Short” this evening.

- There are many reasons why the Ministry of Culture supports the Festival. Firstly because of you, present here this evening, the other reason are readers and the third, the most important, is that ”Kikinda Short” succeeded, with several elements, in fulfilling what is in the description of duties, not of a single ministry, but of a range of organizations, governments and states. Ministers of South Eastern Europe – from Italy to Moldova, from Slovenia to Turkey – by signing The Belgrade Declaration committed themselves to keeping not only the material and intangible heritage, but also to encourage young people, creativity and networking.

This is, in fact, a brief description of the Festival. In just six years, you managed to gather so many young people, you take care that not only the form is heared, but also the language, you are trying to keep this Festival last through the whole year, not only these five or six days, and to enable the exchange and sharing of experiences thus impying new broader projects – Minister Markovic said, opening the Festival short stories in Kikinda.

Despite the rain in Kikinda, that was falling all the afternoon of June 30th, writers and organizers decided that the second night of the Festival is to be held in the garden of the Library and they did not make a mistake. The rain had stopped, a cold night did not prevent the audience to hear the second group of participants. Reading started with Neven Usumovic (Croatia), followed by the readings of Veronica D. Niculescu (Romania), Jaroslav Rudis (Czech Republic), Adam Marek (England), Giorgio Fontana (Italy), Petar Dencev (Bulgaria), David Machado (Portugal), Jasmina Vrbavac (Serbia – Critic-writer), the star of the Festival – Bernard MacLaverty (Scotland); and it was closed by Holly Hwitt (Wales). With the music of rock band The Sons of Radica authors and audience continued their fun into the night.

In the absence of the Festival Coordinator Srdjan Papic, the first night was led by Mirjana Djurdjevic and Vladimir Arsenic, and the next with Mirjana Djurdjevic and Marko Pogacar.

The organizers made an effort this year to show their guests the city where they were welcomed. They visited the National Museum and, among other things, saw the remains of a mammoth Kika. After the tour by driving in carriages through Kikinda, they visited the old brick plant in which Terra symposium is held.

Besides the authors, the Festival guests were: writer Mirjana Djurdjevic (Serbia), translator Natasa Miljkovic (Serbia), literary critic Vladimir Arsenic (Serbia), writer Edi Matic (Croatia), editor Marko Pogacar (Croatia), selector Roland Orcsik (Hungary), literary agent Jamie Coleman (England), and editor Jim Hinks (England).

The texts for this year’s Festival were translated into Serbian by twenty translators: Ala Tatarenko, Aleksandra Petrovic Korda, Biljana Isailovic, Bojana Gajski, Branislava Tomic, Elizabet Vasiljevic, Ema Mimica, Erna Zedi, Irina Djuran, Ivana Scepanovic, Jovan Tatic, Mirna Stevanovic, Natasa Miljkovic, Niki Radulovic, Paola Petric, Sonja Bogosav, Tanja Brkljac, Velimir Kostov, Vladimir Arsenic and Zoran Rackov.

Belgrade partner of the Festival, Cultural Centre “PArobrod”, showed a much greater caution and the reading first night in Belgrade, on July 1st, took place indoors at Kapetan Misina street, 6a. The audience in Belgrade also showed a great interest and “Parobrod” was overcrowded. The next evening, reading was held on Kalemegdan, at the Music Pavilion and, for the first time in six years that the festival is being held, the appropriate place was found for the readings in Belgrade. In Belgrade, the programe was in the shifts lead by the trio – Mirjana Djurdjevic, Marko Pogacar and Vladimir Arsenic, which follows the Festival for years.

In “Parobrod” Ciltural Center, on July 2nd at 12h, a discussion was held with the subject of a literary agent’s role in today’s book market. The speakers were Aleksandra Rasic, editor operational of “Stubovi kulture” Publishing house, Jamie Coleman and Jaroslav Rudis. Moderators were Srdjan Srdic and Vladimir Arsenic.

Impressions

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I just wanted to say thanks so much for inviting me to Kikinda. I had the best time, and I was sad to leave at the end of it. I wrote an article today about Kikinda Short for the Sunday Times Online – they’d like some photos too. I have some, and there are some good ones online from Kallia and Edi – let me know if you’re just about to put any new ones online.

I’ll let you know when the article has been uploaded.

Best

Adam

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Hi to all!

I just wanted to say a few things. It was great meeting you. I had an amazing time. The sun is shining at last- yes we shall have some days of true summer. And that Athens is back to normal and quite quiet :) ))) So for the time being you can all relax – nothing will happen to your savings accounts and enjoy the rest of summer.

Big warm hug.

Kallia

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Hi!

Yes I quite agree!  Paris is sweltering.  I am numbed by exhaustion and having an e-mail day catching up with life, from the 6th floor. It was a privilege to spend the week with you all.  Keep me posted about stuff that’s going on, new books, or if you’re passing through Paris or Wales.

Cariad,

Sian

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Dear All,

Serbia is nothing without you! Even water in Kikinda is not yellow any more. Keep in touch,

love, Mira

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I agree with Mira completely.

Miss you all.

Love,

Chicha

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Echoing everyone else: I miss Serbia! Thanks all for making it such a fun and memorable week.

Holly

[hollyhowitt.wordpress.com]

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I wake in the morning and there is no roommate. I go to bathroom and there is brand new tub. I sit in the cafe and hear only Macedonian and few steps forward I have to eat burek alone. I went to kitchen and there is no meet for lunch. Something is really wrong.

Thanks for plenty of great time in Kikinda and Belgrade.

Regards from Skopje.

Zarko K.

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..yours feelings is my feelings…

Tomaz

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I miss Kikinda, and Belgrade, and Kalemegdan Park, and most of all I miss you all. Thank you for the lovely lovely lovey week! And for sharing photos. Hope to see you again, sometimes, somewhere.

Big hug from Sibiu,

Veronica

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Already seems a long time ago, Thank you for a fantastic week

Evie Wyld

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True, it sounds crazy to be back on my normal routine. Thank you all for this amazing experience!

Giorgio

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Dear All,

Absolutely agree with above speakers. It was a great time. By the way, Giorgio, what is normal? :)

Hugs to everybody.

Kinga Julia (and Toby, the pig)

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Dear all,

Sofia seems to look like a very boring city, and I feel bored back in. I miss the time with you. I agree with all of you. Thank you of having a great time. :) And hope to see you soon.

Best,

Petar Denchev

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The best time I’ve ever had whilst smelling of egg. Much love to you all with meat and potatoes.

Jamie

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dear all,

beyond sending a huge hug to all of you, i have to say that i’ll sincerely miss thobi as the pig!!

mirjana and me, after all, almost adopted him…

best from warm concrete zagreb!

Marko

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So my sugestion is: 1) each of us organizes a short-story festival in his/hers own countries; 2) each of us invites the others to his/hers festival; 3) each of us goes to all the other festivals; 4) (i’m not sure what 4) should be); 5) each of us goes back to his/hers own country to find out he/her still misses the fun and the conversations and the readings and the bad food and good food and the beer and friends; 6) we start it all over again.

Thank you for truly memorable days.

Love (from Portugal),

David

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Hi All,

Sorry for my late reply. But thank you all for a great time. It was truly a great adventure.

We will try and get Janneke to read next year so we can come back and then I will say to all those people: Last year was soooo much better.

And I will probably accept any invitation I get from any festival you organize in your country.

See you then! All the best from Amsterdam,

Thijs.

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Thanks, Thijs. And a delayed ‘hello’ to everyone from a thundery and very wet Edinburgh.

It’s been a pleasure to read these emails confirming what a happy time everyone had in Serbia. My nostalgia for the conversation and pivo is starting to subside; what remains is a cheerful memory of excellent company. So thanks to Srdjan, Vera, Vladimir, Jim, and everyone else who made us so welcome. It was a treat!

Till we meet again,

Gregory

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Hi Everybody,

Kikinda was unforgettable in various ways.

To be among a bunch of such talented young writers was a wonderful experience.

Let’s drink an old Scottish toast to ourselves.

‘May we all be happy And may our enemies know it.’

All the best

Bernard & Madeline

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Wow I’ve never heard that toast and I’m going to use it as of now! Thank you. Joy from Paris.  I hope you’re all well.

Sian

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hey everybody,

am i really the last one to wave my flag? let’s just call it “the german delay”. just want to say DANKE! HVALA! to Srdjan and his staff who made us have unforgettable days, and not just because the steven king-hotel. :-)   thank you for your warmth and hospitality, and see you all in one of our countries. See you soon, guys, Lacu noc

Ulrike

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…and this is the “czech prague delay”! we were all the time the last and the slowest ones, maybe because of the power of the beer. but anyway: díky / thanks, kikindas burek was the the best!

jaroslav

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No, I think I am the really last one to greet all of you wonderful people with a toast. It was not my purpose to disappear again! I am for the moment in Poland – where I still can order a “piwo”.

Thankyou all so much for a really unforgettable week.

Best regards from Krakow,

Bjarte

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A short one!

Pokrajinski sekretarijat za kulturu Ministarstvo kulture, informisanja i informacionog drustva

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