Spectaculo Interesse Announces Award Winners
A major innovation of this year’s edition was a dedicated student competition section, showcasing productions by students and graduates of leading European puppetry schools. The festival also placed a strong emphasis on language accessibility—all performances were subtitled, with some offering multilingual scripts or even a performative translation, blending language with stage action. Many productions communicated entirely without words.
Companies from Canada, Switzerland, Italy, France, Slovenia, Belgium, Greece, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic took part in this year’s rich and diverse program.
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Award Winners of the 15th Spectaculo Interesse Biennial
• Jiří Adámek Austerlitz – for directing Hugo’s World (Bratislava Puppet Theatre)
For sensitively drawing the audience into the story, working creatively with children, and awakening their imagination. The ensemble of the Bratislava Puppet Theatre played an irreplaceable role in realizing the director’s vision.
Award donated by Lucie Baránková Vilamová, Deputy Mayor of Ostrava.
• Dominik Migač – for scenography and technology in Comrades with Hoops
For thoughtful and innovative technical design, refined aesthetics, and a sophisticated approach to flat puppetry.
Award donated by Bartosini s.r.o.
• Annine Mosimann – for performance in Mycelium
For authenticity, expressive physicality, and a powerful stage presence.
Award donated by VKUS-BUSTAN s.r.o.
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Student / Graduate Section
• Berta Doubková, Department of Alternative and Puppet Theatre, DAMU Prague – I’ll Make a Hole So I Can Stick Out of It
For a fresh and focused approach to object theatre and performer expression.
Award donated by Andrea Hoffmannová, Deputy Mayor of Ostrava.
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The event was held under the patronage of Martin Baxa, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic; Peter Harvánek, Member of the Moravian-Silesian Regional Council for Culture and Heritage; and Lucie Baránková Vilamová, Deputy Mayor of Ostrava.
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International Jury of Spectaculo Interesse 2025
• Lenka Dzadíková (Slovakia) – Theatre theorist and critic, graduate and PhD holder from the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, specializing in puppet and children’s theatre.
• Ema Šlechtová (Czech Republic) – Theatre critic and editor, co-organizer of the national puppetry festival Overflight of the Puppeteers’ Nest and editor-in-chief of multiple festival journals, including the 14th Spectaculo Interesse.
• Saša Latinović (Serbia) – Actor, professor, and long-time member of Pozorište mladih Novi Sad, teaching puppetry acting and stage speech at the University of Novi Sad.
• Tin Grabnar (Slovenia) – Theatre director known for experimental and performative puppet productions, recipient of numerous national and international awards for works such as Somewhere Else and Still Life.
• Agnieszka Vamala Paszek (Poland) – Actor, performer, and puppetry student at the Academy of Theatre Arts in Wrocław, representing the new generation of puppeteers.
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The Spectaculo Interesse Festival once again confirmed Ostrava’s reputation as an international hub for innovative puppet theatre, where artistry, imagination, and technical mastery come together to inspire audiences of all ages.