Dual at the Embassy Call for AFI EU Job Applications: Film Showcase Announcement BIO 50 page 2 > page 4 > page 4 >

NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 20, 2013, VOLUME 9, NUMBER 46 Gabriela Babnik at the Library of Congress The Embassy of in cooperation with the European Division at the Ms. Babnik was recently honored by the EU Prize for Literature. Library of Congress organized on Tuesday, December 17, a was brought up on the street as an alternating narrative by literary event, in which the where he was often the victim of both sides of the relationship, acclaimed Slovenian author abuse. What unites them is the the novel is interlaced with Gabriela Babnik discussed loneliness of their bodies, a tragic magic realism and accurately her latest novel, Dry Season. childhood and the dry season, perceived fragments of African The young writer was or Harmattan, during which political reality. recently honored the European neither nature nor love is able to Dry Season is Ms. Union Prize for Literature for her flourish. She soon realizes that Babnik’s third published novel. novel Dry Season (Sušna doba), the emptiness between them is Her debut novel, Skin of Cotton in which she examines interaction not really caused by their skin (Koža iz bombaža), won the Best and cultural clashes between color and age difference, but Debut Novel Award in Slovenia Europe and Africa. The novel is a predominantly by her belonging in 2007. She also adapted the record of an unusual love affair. to the Western culture, in which novel for a radio play for the Anna is a 62-year-old designer she has lost or abandoned all the Slovene national radio. The play from Central Europe and Ismael preordained roles of daughter, was one of three nominees for is a 27-year-old African, who wife and mother. Cleverly written the Best Adapted Drama Award

Embassy of Slovenia 2410 California Street, NW twitter.com/SLOinUSA Washington, D.C. 20008, USA T: +1 202 386 66 01 E: [email protected] facebook.com/SLOembassyUSA washington.embassy.si at the Prix Italia in 2011. Her second novel, In the Tall Grass (V visoki travi), was short-listed in 2010 for the Kresnik Award, the Slovenian highest national literary award, for best novel. Ms. Babnik regularly contributes literature reviews, essays, travelogues, interviews and commentaries to various publications in Slovenia. She holds a master‘s degree in comparative literature from the University of Ljubljana with a dissertation on the contemporary Nigerian novel, and is currently writing political comments on Ms. Babnik reading an excerpt from her book Dry Season. African issues for the foreign edition of the main newspaper, Delo. FILM Dual at the AFI European Union Film Showcase

The 2013 AFI-EU Film had its world premiere at the Showcase opened on Thursday, Karlovy Vary International Film December 5, at the historic AFI Festival and is a second feature- Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, film directed by young Slovenian Maryland. Presented by the writer and director Nejc Gazvoda. American Film Institute (AFI) in “A delicately crafted collaboration with the Delegation charmer of a film, for a while of the European Union to the Nejc Gazvoda’s colorful, funny United States and E.U. Member and insightful film feels like a States, the festival in its 26th lesbian equivalent of BEFORE edition showcases the best in SUNSET as two young women European filmmaking. This year’s wander the warm nighttime selection features more than 50 streets of Ljubljana, talking, films, including multiple-award having fun and gradually coming winners, international festival under each other’s spell.” wrote favorites, local box-office hits Mark Adams of the Screen Daily and debut works by promising about the film, which narrates new talents, including several a story about Iben (Mia Jexen), official Oscar submissions for a free spirited Dane, who is The AFI-EU Film Showcase best foreign language film. stopping in Slovenia on her way festival runs through December Slovenian film Dual to a holiday in Greece. When 22. The full schedule of films (Dvojina), directed by Nejc her flight is delayed, she crosses and additional information are Gazvoda, was screened on paths with Tina (Nina Rakovec), available at http://www.afi.com/ Saturday December 14 and the straitlaced bus driver who silver/EUShowcase/ Monday December 16. The film picks her up at the airport.

DECEMBER 20, 2013, PAGE 2 TOURISM The center of the municipality is Medvode, a town at the confluence of the Sora and Sava rivers (hence the name, which means “between waters”), where the Sora Plain meets the Ljubljana Basin. The town is situated on the main road Ljubljana–Kranj, some 12 kilometers (7.5 mi.) northwest of Ljubljana, at an altitude of 316 The municipality of meters (1035 ft.) above sea level. Medvode is located in the central The territory of the Slovenian region, only a 20- present-day settlement has been minute drive from the capital inhabited since prehistoric times, a Ljubljana, and extends from lake fact demonstrated by the find of a View on Medvode from an airplane. Trboje and the remains of the bronze axe during the construction Old Castle of in the of the hydroelectric plant on the northeast across the edge of the river Sava at Medvode, the traces The surroundings of Šmarna gora and Grmada hills of a Roman settlement in Rakovnik Medvode are full of popular to the Medanski hill, the Topol and by gold coins in – destinations for many visitors hill and the southern edges of proof that the area was crossed looking to take a trip for recreation the Polhov Gradec Dolomites by important routes linking the and relaxation. Geographically, in the southwest. Over 15,000 Primorska (Littoral) and Koroška the area is very diverse and is inhabitants live in 32 settlements (Carinthia) regions with the known for its rich vegetation and spread across around 78.5 sq.km. Gorenjska (Upper Carniola) region. wildlife. Like the surrounding hills, (30.3 sq. mi.). Its economic and At the southern edge of Medvode, the plains around Medvode offer topographic diversity ranges from a local road branches off past the many possibilities for walking, villages to industrial settlements Goričane Manor and the famous hiking, biking trips around the on hills and in the plains. church of St. Andrew in Gosteče in Sora Plain or boating on lake the direction of Škofja Loka. Zbilje.

Lake Zbilje (Photo courtesy: Iztok Pipan) Manor Goričane (Photo courtesy: Aleš Nanut).

DECEMBER 20, 2013, PAGE 3 JOB ANNOUNCEMENT The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Washing- ton, DC, is looking for a locally employed administration staff member in the Consular section of the Embassy

Duties include, but are not language (both oral and written) Application should limited to: - Basic knowledge of Slovenia, consist of a cover letter, - Communication/work with Slovenian Government, evidence of education, CV and a consular clients Administration recommendation letter in case you - Official communication/ - Basic knowledge of the European already have relevant experience. administrative work with Slovenian Union All those interested in and U.S. authorities - Technology/computer skills (PC) working in an international - Communication/administrative - software (Power Point, Word, environment and obtaining work with foreign diplomatic Excell) skills experience in diplomacy and missions and foreign governments - Discretion in managing sensitive administration are welcome to -- Records keeping for consular informational and personal data send the application online to section and other administrative - Committed sense of customer [email protected] with “Job Application” work service as the subject. - Preparation of publishable - Excellent interpersonal, team Deadline for applications is written material including press and organizational skills January 5, 2013 releases, official business letters - Self- motivation and eagerness Location of work: Embassy of - Assistance to diplomatic staff to independently research/acquire Slovenia, Washington, DC Requirements: new skills as needed Beginning of work: February 2014 - Bachelor’s degree - Ability to prioritize and ability to Contract type: annual contract - Excellent communication skills handle multiple tasks with the possibility of extension - Fluency in Slovene and English - Readiness to work overtime CALL FOR APPLICATIONS BIO Biennial of Design 50 In 2014, the Biennial integrating and contributing to projects will be published in an of Design (BIO), organized by the outcome of each group that accompanying catalogue. An the Museum of Architecture will tackle themes of everyday international jury (http://bio.si/ and Design in Ljubljana, life. Deadline for applications is en/#jury ) will grant an Award Slovenia, reinvents itself and January 12, 2014. for Best Collaboration, and a launches an ambitious call On its 50th anniversary, compelling series of events for applications. Entering the the 24th Biennial of Design, will enrich the Biennial’s core realm of collaboration, where curated by Belgian critic and program and serve to explore design is a tool to rethink curator, Jan Boelen, builds on ways in which collaboration can everyday life, the Biennial is the event’s tradition and history, continue beyond the event. looking for individuals to shape advancing into an experimental, More on Biennial of possible futures for design. BIO collaborative territory. From Design: http://bio.si/en/ More is looking for team members September 18 to December about Call for Applications to with diverse backgrounds and 7, 2014, BIO 50 will present BIO 50: http://bio.si/en/#call- a multidisciplinary approach, the outcomes of each team’s for-applications students and professionals alike, work in an exhibition, and DECEMBER 20, 2013, PAGE 4 SREČNO

Greetings of the Season and Best Wishes for the New Year 2014! Prijetne božične praznike in srečno novo leto 2014!

Dr. Božo Cerar Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the U.S.

ANNOUNCEMENT The next issue of the Slovenian Embassy Newsletter will be published on Friday, January 10, 2013.

The weekly Embassy Newsletter, produced by the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington, is available on: www.washington.embassy.si. Send us your comments or request for a subscription on: [email protected], Editor: Nuška Zakrajšek

DECEMBER 20, 2013, PAGE 5