DECISIONS AND CITATIONS OF THE PROFESSIONAL JURY OF THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF PROFESSIONAL THEATERS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
NOVI SAD THEATER FESTIVAL
The professional jury, composed of actress Jelica Gligorin, dramaturge Mina Petrić and director Jakub Maksimov, after viewing nine performances presented between May 7 and 12, 2026, at the fifth International Festival of Professional Theaters for Children and Young People, Novi Sad Theater Festival, has reached the following decisions:
Award for Best Overall Production - GRAND PRIX
The Nest
TMEL Collective, Prague, Czech Republic
The Nest is a production rich in elements worthy of individual praise: the scenography — itself honored with a Special Award — the music, and the performers’ playful relationship to the animated world they create. What impressed us most, however, was the harmony between these individual components and the production as a whole, both in its visual language and in the way the story unfolds. In the world of The Nest, every creature, no matter how small, possesses the power to alter the course of the universe, awakening in us the hope that every action carries meaning within a larger cosmic order. It is precisely this philosophical dimension that makes the production resonate with audiences of all ages, inviting them into the strange yet deeply familiar ecosystem of The Nest.
Best Director Award
Mateja Bizjak Petit
Sweet Words
City Puppet Theatre Rijeka, Croatia
In the direction of Sweet Words, we recognize the sensitive orchestration of all theatrical elements into a cohesive and finely balanced whole. The production approaches young audiences with genuine empathy while simultaneously giving each performer ample space to shine on stage. The result is a staging that feels like an embrace.
Best Performance Award
Miha Bezeljak
Pinocchio
Maribor Puppet Theatre, Slovenia
Miha Bezeljak demonstrated an exceptional level of skill in the rapid transitions between live performance and the animation of objects and puppets of vastly different characters. His effortless command of material, space, and even the audience’s attention is truly remarkable. This fresh interpretation of a familiar story relies entirely on the actor’s energetic performance, through which he becomes one with the production itself.
Animation Mastery Award
Tilen Kožamelj
Sweet Words
City Puppet Theatre Rijeka, Croatia
This award is presented in recognition of the outstanding balance between playful spontaneity and precision, as well as the seamless interplay between live performance and animation. We will long remember the scene in which Tilen brings Lola to life as she plays in his lap and gently caresses his face, along with the many other tender and beautifully realized moments that make this performance so memorable.
Special Award for Scenic and Puppet Design
Berta Doubková
The Nest
TMEL Collective, Prague, Czech Republic
The scenography is the defining element of this production, creating a complex ecosystem that the performers gradually explore and bring to life. Encountering the work of Berta Doubková feels like visiting another planet. Her work offers audiences a fresh, non-anthropocentric vision of the universe.
Special Award for Ensemble Puppetry Animation
to the ensemble of The Journey of the Good Hans Böhm Through Europe
Alfa Theatre, Pilsen, Czech Republic
The ensemble delivered a performance of remarkable unity, precision, and playfulness. Within a highly complex narrative populated by numerous characters and puppets, shaped by rapid transitions and performed across as many as six different languages, the actors achieved an impressive clarity and cohesion that appeared entirely effortless, earning our sincere admiration.
Special Award for Ensemble Performance
to the ensemble of Andraci, Jepuri, and Other Most Important Monsters of Petrovgrad and Central Banat
Toša Jovanović National Theatre, Zrenjanin, Serbia
The “ensemble performance” recognized by this award refers not only to acting, but also to play in its most essential sense. The production unfolds simultaneously as wordplay, object theater, video art, and a theatrical interpretation of prose approached with great care and sensitivity. We were deeply impressed by the ensemble’s extraordinary energy and their collective faith in the power of imagination, to which they are wholeheartedly committed and through which they succeeded in capturing both our attention and our emotions.
Novi Sad, May 12, 2026
Jelica Gligorin, President of the Jury
Mina Petrić
Jakub Maksymov