The Belfast/Sarajevo Initiative for the Creative and Performing Arts: An Exchange between Queen’s University, Belfast and the Academy of Performing Arts Sarajevo Hosted by the Brian Friel Centre for Theatre Research th th Monday 26 – Friday 30 October 2009 Steering Committee: Niall Rea, Michelle Young, Merita Zekovic Academic Chair: Professor Anna Mc Mullan MONDAY 26TH OCTOBER INTRODUCING SARAJEVO 10.00am – 1.00pm Room 102, Peter Froggatt Centre Papers presented by the Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Research Group in Post- Conflict Studies Merita Zekovic ‘CSaw’ Performing Artistic transformations of Sarajevo sites in a post-conflict context Niall Rea ‘Queer Trouble’ The recent problematic presentation of queer identity in Sarajevo Maria Andreana Deiana ‘Blurring the Issue’ Representations of women in the Bosnian War and the Aesthetics of victimhood Giulia Carabielli ‘Re(ad)dressing Mostar. Architecture and/of the everyday life’ EXPERIENCES OF SARAJEVO 2.00pm – 4.00pm Room 102, Peter Froggatt Centre A round table discussion with Belfast practitioners and artists on their personal experiences of working in Sarajevo Mike Maloney (Theatre Practitioner and ex Belfast Circus School) Donal McKendry (Theatre Practitioner and ex Belfast Circus School) Chris Agee (Writer and Translator) FILM SCREENING 5.15pm – 7.00pm Seminar Room, Drama and Film Centre, 20 University Square Grbavica Directed and written by Jasmilla Zbanic, Grbavica is a story about contemporary Sarajevo. Single mother Esma wants to grant her twelve-year-old daughter Sara's wish to participate in a school trip. A certificate proving her father is a war martyr would allow her a discount. But Esma continues to avoid Sara's requests for the certificate. She will rather find a way to pay full price for the trip. She believes not telling the truth about Sara's father is a way to protect both herself and her daughter. 1 TH TUESDAY 27 OCTOBER WORKSHOP WITH ANDREJ DJERKOVIC 10.00am – 3.00pm Meredith Room, 23 University Square An exciting opportunity to work with internationally acclaimed documentary photographer Andrej Djerkovic on the creation of an original piece of work for exhibition. Based on the concept of ‘physical dividedness’, participants will create work using their own words and images. Djerkovic’s work through and beyond the siege of Sarajevo earned him a Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Information Service. He has previously been an artist in residence at Belfast Exposed Gallery and his work from here is permanently exhibited in the National Gallery in Sarajevo. He has exhibited throughout the world and he will present and discuss his work as part of this session. This workshop is open to all staff and postgraduate students. Booking is essential. SEMINAR WITH ELMA TATARAGIC 3.00pm – 5.00pm Room 207, Peter Froggatt Centre A unique seminar with the critically renowned screen writer and film maker whose multi award winning film ‘Snijeg’ (Snow) will be shown during the week. Tataragic will present and discuss her work which received, among other awards, the Special Jury and Public award at the 20th Trieste Film Festival and won the Special Jury Award at the 37th Festival of New Cinema in Montreal. This workshop is open to all staff and postgraduate students. FILM SCREENING 5.15pm – 7.00pm Seminar Room, Drama and Film Centre, 20 University Square Welcome to Sarajevo Directed by Michael Winterbottom, this is the story of a group of journalists posted to Sarajevo during the intense and unpredictable violence of the siege of Sarajevo. Searching for footage that will guarantee them a prime news slot, their story is played out against that of Nina – a relief worker who is attempting to shuttle a busload of children out of the country. Combining documentary footage of the horrific acts of "ethnic cleansing" within the story, this film is a highly original motion picture that aims to shed light on the tragic civil war that ravaged Yugoslavia. 2 WEDNESDAY 28TH OCTOBER WORKSHOP WITH ANDREJ DJERKOVIC 10.00am – 12.30pm Meredith Room, 23 University Square The workshop with the acclaimed photographer will finish with a debrief and showing of work that will be exhibited outside the Brian Friel Theatre from Wednesday evening until Saturday FILM SCREENING 2.00pm – 4.30pm Seminar Room, Drama and Film Centre, 20 University Square Snow Directed by Aida Begic. Screenplay and Producer Elma Tataragic. Six women, a grandfather, four girls and a young boy live in war ravaged and isolated village of Slavno. Their families and friends have been killed and their bodies have never been found. The first snow brings full isolation to the village. Alma, a young stubborn woman, believes they can still survive. She encourages her people to work their way out of poverty by selling plum jam and other fruits and vegetables that their village is famous for on a deserted road. Two businessmen eventually come to visit Slavno demanding residents to leave the village offering money in return. The villagers ultimately face a dilemma--should they accept the offer that could save their lives, but destroy their souls. This screening will be introduced by screen writer and producer, Elma Tataragic. Open to all QUB staff and students. Booking is essential. IMAGE SITE CONFLICT 2.30pm – 5.00pm Meredith Room, 23 University Square Chaired by Dr. Debbie Lisle Placing the photo image in a post conflict context with presentations from Bosnian photographer and artist, Andrej Djerkovic whose work through and beyond the siege of Sarajevo earned him international critical acclaim. Also included in the panel will be Dr. Mark Phelan from Drama Studies at Queen’s, the founder of Belfast Exposed, Sean McKernan, Frankie Quinn from Red Barn Gallery and Newry born artist, Sean Hillen, creator of photomontages based on his documentary photos from the ‘Troubles’ and of the Omagh memorial sculpture. Artists will discuss their work and its role in documenting and commemorating the past. This seminar is open to all staff and postgraduate students and will also be open to the public. Early booking is advised. 3 TH THURSDAY 29 OCTOBER LECTURE: HARIS PASOVIC 10.00am – 11.00am Room 301, Peter Froggatt Centre The Director of the acclaimed East West Theatre Centre will be introducing his workshop with 3rd year Drama students. WORKSHOP: ELMA TATARAGIC 10.00am – 1.00pm Seminar Room, Drama and Film Centre, 20 University Square Film-making Workshop with screen writer and producer, Elma Tataragic. This workshop will be for 3rd year Film students and is also open to Interdisciplinary post graduate students. WORKSHOP: HARIS PASOVIC 1.00pm – 4.00pm Rehearsal Room, Brian Friel Theatre, 20 University Square Practical workshop with Haris Pasovic for 3rd year Drama students THEATRE IS CONFLICT HARIS PASOVIC 4.00pm – 6.30pm Brian Friel Theatre Internationally renowned Theatre Director, Producer and founder of the first Sarajevo Film Festival, Beyond the End of the World in 1993 when the city was still under siege, Pasovic will present a retrospective exploration of his life and work. Formerly the Artistic Director of the International Festival MESS and currently the Artistic Director of the award winning East West Centre responsible for some of the most iconic theatrical events in the former Yugoslavia, this is a unique opportunity to hear the thoughts and opinions of this visionary director on the survival, role and responsibilities of theatre during and after conflict. This event is open to all staff and post graduate students and is also open to the public. Early booking is advised. SEMINAR WITH ELMA TATARAGIC 5.00pm – 7.00pm Film Studies Seminar Room Seminar with Screen writer/producer Elma Tataragic with MA screen writing students. This seminar is open to all post graduate students BOOK LAUNCH CHRIS AGEE 6.30pm – 7.30pm Visitors Centre near Great Hall Chris Agee will read from his third collection of poetry, Next to Nothing (Salt, 2009). Editor of Scar on the Stone: Contemporary Poetry from Bosnia, Agee spends part of each year at his house on Korčula, near Dubrovnik. Many of the poems in his new collection are set in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. “It is a profound and exceptionally moving book. I haven’t read anything so powerful in a long time. I was left with a sense of both the fragility and the huge importance of the here and now, as well as with an expanded sense of poetry’s capacity.” (Hugh Dunkerley) In association with the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, QUB, and Salt Publishing, Cambridge, England. 4 TH FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER POST CONFLICT ART? : A DAY OF CROSS CULTURAL EXPLORATION AND EXCHANGE EAST WEST THEATRE CENTRE 10.00am – 12.30pm Brian Friel Theatre, 20 University Square Ismar Hadziabdic, Assistant Producer of award winning company, East West Theatre Centre will present an overview of some of the company’s most iconic theatrical events. RECEPTION LUNCH 12.30pm – 2.00pm Foyer of Brian Friel Theatre A BELFAST SARAJEVO EXCHANGE 2.00pm – 4.00pm Brian Friel Theatre, 20 University Square Introduction/Welcome from Professor David Johnston, Head of School of Languages, Literatures and Performing Arts. POST CONFLICT ART? A round table discussion chaired by Professor Anna McMullan A panel discussion involving a unique exchange between artists and practitioners living and working in Belfast and Sarajevo, this promises to be a stimulating dialogue involving some of the most exciting and prolific artists working in both cities at the moment. The panel will include Elma Tataragic, Bosnian screen writer and producer of the multi award winning 2008 film Snijeg (Snow), documentary photographer and artist, Andrej Djerkovic and internationally acclaimed Theatre Director, Haris Pasovic. In conversation with these artists will be Paula Mc Fetridge, Artistic Director of Kabosh Theatre Company, Belfast, Director and academic David Grant and acclaimed playwright, Owen McCafferty. WINE RECEPTION 4.30pm – 6.30pm Foyer of Brian Friel Theatre All events are free (limited seats: RSVP to [email protected] to reserve your place).