Mednarodni lutkovni festival z najdaljšo tradicijo je obiskalo več kot dva tisoč ljudi

More than two thousand visitors attended the 37th Summer Puppet Festival in Maribor, Slovenia, which concluded with the awarding of the golden giraffe trophy to the production Nagibanje. The festival ran from August 14 to 30, featuring 24 puppet shows alongside film screenings, concerts, creative workshops, walks, and exhibitions. Organized by the Lutkovno Gledališče Maribor (LGM), the event attracted audiences across different age groups and drew international attention with performances from countries including Hungary, Croatia, Austria, Italy, Spain, France, Argentina, Canada, and Palestine. This year marked the first time the festival took place at the Lučkin Odro in Ruša and the Botanical Garden of the University of Maribor in Pivoli. The festival’s main venue was the courtyard and halls of the Lutkovno Gledališče Maribor, with additional locations including the City Park, Maribor Island, and the Art Gallery Maribor. Over the course of three weeks, attendees were able to experience a wide range of artistic expressions through puppetry, film, and interactive activities. The event emphasized diversity in both content and technique, showcasing how puppetry can engage children, teenagers, and adults alike. The golden giraffe award, chosen annually by the child audience, went to Nagibanje, a performance designed specifically for the youngest spectators. Created and performed by Hungarian artist Anna Markó-Valentyik, the show captivated its target demographic on the final day of the festival. According to reports from the LGM, Nagibanje received the highest number of gold stars awarded by children, making it the standout production of the event. The performance was described as enchanting and well-suited for young audiences, reinforcing its appeal among families attending the festival. In addition to the main puppet shows, the festival featured a variety of supplementary programs aimed at engaging all generations. Film screenings offered insights into the world of puppetry, while creative workshops allowed participants to explore the craft firsthand. Guided tours and interactive sessions provided opportunities for deeper engagement with the art form. The inclusion of exhibitions and discussions further enriched the experience, offering a platform for artists and creators to share their work and ideas. The success of this year's festival has set the stage for the upcoming Transport festival, scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. This new initiative is part of an ongoing European project involving six puppet theaters from Slovenia, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic. Inspired by director and writer Tina Grabnar’s vision, Transport will feature a series of puppet plays exploring themes related to increasing transportation challenges in the modern world. These productions aim to highlight ecological crises, wars, resource depletion, and cultural identity loss through hyper-realistic miniature representations of reality. The Transport festival will include a significant exhibition dedicated to the work of artist Aleksandar Andželović, showcasing replicas of his crafted objects and figures. It will also present the process of creation, from technological aspects to artistic expression, in collaboration with the StopTrik festival. A special focus will be placed on the intersection of digital sculpture and 3D printing, titled Printed Movement, From Digital Sculpture to 3D Printing. This exhibition aims to demonstrate the evolving nature of puppetry and its integration with contemporary technologies. The Transport project has been supported by the Creative Europe program of the European Union. However, the content presented does not reflect the stance of the European Commission. As the festival transitions from one theme to another, the continued exploration of puppetry as a medium for storytelling and social commentary remains central to the Lutkovno Gledališče Maribor’s mission. With each edition, the festival reinforces its position as a leading international puppet theater event, drawing diverse audiences and fostering cross-cultural exchange through the universal language of puppetry.