EFFE Awards 2015-2016

BIG BANG

(ANTWERP, BELGIUM AND EIGHT OTHER EUROPEAN CITIES)

BIG BANG is an adventurous music festival for young audiences (4–12 years) created by Belgium’s Zonzo Compagnie. In 9 major European cultural centres venues are transformed into a musical labyrinth for a colourful programme of concerts, installations and workshops. There is a strong focus on contemporary and improvised music, and children get fully involved to explore diverse genres and styles. The festival is part of the European BIG BANG network as an exchange and co-production platform.

"A major established artform-specific festival which attempts to innovate with tradition, revitalizing the genre of opera by bringing in new directors and approaches. It’s Academy and the process of developing new artists is at the core of the festival’s current mission, and it works closely with diverse communities in Aix-en-Provence as well as a considerable international audience."
- The EFFE International Jury

MALTA FESTIVAL POZNAN

(POZNAN, POLAND)

Malta Festival Poznań presents some of the most interesting contemporary cultural phenomena from all over the world and co-produces theatre shows. The programme combines disciplines, media and high and popular culture in 2 main sections: Idiom, in which the Idiom curator, a distinguished artist, chooses a theme and invites established artists and emerging talent to explore it; and Generator Malta, a project which involves urban communities. The festival celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2015.

MIDNIGHT SUN FILM FESTIVAL

(SODANKYLA, FINLAND)

Founded in 1986 by the Finnish Directors Aki and Mika Kaurismäki as well as Peter von Bagh, the Midnight Sun Film Festival boasts one of the most unusual atmospheres of any festival in the world. Top Directors, rising talent, an international audience and curious visitors come together in Sodankylä to share their love of cinema under the midnight sun. Sodankylä is in the heart of Finnish Lapland, 120 km above the Arctic Circle, where the sun never sets in summer. Films are shown 24 hours a day.

"Created by leading artists in the field (acclaimed film-makers the Kaurismäki brothers), this is a distinctive and surprising film festival, from a genre which was not strongly represented in the application process. It takes a fun seasonal approach, inspired by the idea that it is almost always daylight in the summer in the far north above the Arctic Circle – so if you want to experience some darkness you have to go to the cinema. It invites a range of leading practitioners to present their work and discuss the artform, and engages significantly in the community in this remote part of Europe."
- The EFFE International Jury

NEXT FESTIVAL

(EUROMETROPOLIS LILLE-KORTRIJK-TOURNAI AND VALENCIENNES, BELGIUM / FRANCE)

NEXT is the international performing arts festival for the cross-border Eurometropolis Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai, created and organized by 5 French and Belgian culture and arts houses. The programme focuses on referential work and new developments in contemporary theatre, dance and performance. Every November around 35 international companies present their work in some 13 cities and 18 venues of the Eurometropolis. A network of festival buses take spectators around the region to watch performances.

NOORDERZON PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL GRONINGEN

(GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS)

Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival Groningen is the somewhat curious combination of a cutting edge international arts festival and a large-scale summer festival for 135,000 visitors. The heart of Noorderzon is the idyllic Noorderplantsoen, a city park, where, for 11 summer days, a freely accessible festival village appears almost out of nowhere to provide a setting for theatre, dance, music, literature and visual art in combination with eating, drinking and social encounters.

PERFORATIONS FESTIVAL

(DUBROVNIK / RIJEKA / SPLIT / ZAGREB, CROATIA)

The Perforations Festival takes place every year in four Croatian cities: Zagreb, Rijeka, Split and Dubrovnik. The festival presents a variety of Balkan artists working in performance art, theatre and dance, whose diverse approaches to their art blur the borders between these genres. While their work touches upon issues of identity (public, political, religious and ecological), of redefining borders, of a collective past and of personal histories, most of all their work talks about the present.

"An innovative new festival of live art with a strong and provocative aesthetic, from a country with a vibrant festival scene. Its focus on queer artists and issues is politically and socially significant in a country that does not promote equal rights for its LGBT citizens. The festival takes place in three different cities, engaging with different communities and bringing the work to wider audiences, and has developed an innovative performance art platform Night of Performances which has showcased Croatian artists around the world."
- The EFFE International Jury

"Another hugely significant international gathering in its field, the Prague Quadrennial has identified a specific area of artistic practice and made a great impact. Its programmes for students and young professionals are an extremely important aspect of its programme, making it a vital gathering for young artists and designers where they can come together and invent the future of stage design."
- The EFFE International Jury

SANTARCANGELO FESTIVAL INTERNAZIONALE DEL TEATRO IN PIAZZA

(SANTARCANGELO DI ROMAGNA, ITALY)

Santarcangelo dei Teatri is one of the main international performing arts festivals in Italy. Over more than 40 years, it has contributed significantly to the development of contemporary performing arts and new audiences, and built a strong international reputation. Every year in July Santarcangelo becomes a city-theatre, transforming its architecture into venues for performances, installations, workshops, lectures and debates, and welcoming many international and national artists and audiences.

SICK! FESTIVAL

(BRIGHTON / MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM)

SICK! Festival is the first in the UK to confront the physical, mental and social challenges of life and death. It bears witness to the realities of our lives, shining a light on urgent issues that often remain misunderstood or taboo, through an outstanding programme of performance, theatre, dance, literature, film, visual art and public debates, and a year-round conversation between the arts, science, healthcare, charities and individuals. Venues are across Brighton, Manchester and Salford.

"A small and recently established festival whose innovative programme focuses on issues of physical and mental health, delivered in partnership with leading arts organisations, medical and academic institutions, charities and community groups. The festival takes place in two different cities, creating mobility for artists and ideas, and presents challenging European work which would not otherwise be seen in the UK."
- The EFFE International Jury