International Literary Festival, Bijelo Polje, Montenegro

1. INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL
1971 - 2009
MONTENEGRO

2. Ratkovic’s Evenings of Poetry Bijelo Polje - Podgorica

3. Poland poet Ewa
Sonnenberg
International literary festival “Ratkoviceve veceri poezije”
(Ratkovic’s Evenings of Poetry), named after one of the most
relevant Montenegrian modern lyric poets, is the most
important literary manifestation in Montenegro, and one of
the most prestigious literary festivals in the Balkan region.

4. One of the main goals of the festival is the affirmation of
Montenegrian literature, as well as the literature of so called
little nations in terms of creating the possibility of
establishing good cultural atmosphere and literary
connections.
Poetry evening of
Danilo Kis in the house
of Risto Ratkovic

5. For the past 39 years, through its programs, art exhibitions,
literary conferences, artistic and publishing projects, round
tables and discussions on current issues in literature, the
festival traditionally presents the artists from Montenegro
and the region, and gives a significant contribution to the
cultural atmosphere in Montenegro.
It also establishes dynamic
communication with other
cultures in the region and
Europe in general.

6. The program of the festival is comprised of two international
central literary evenings of prominent writers in the Cultural
center of Bijelo Polje and in the “Carver” bookshop in
Podgorica.

7. Member of the jury,
Montenegrin writer
Jovanka Uljarevic,
read the jury an
explanation for young
authors.
Two literary awards are handed at the festival, the main
award “Risto Ratkovic” for the best book published between
two manifestations, and the award for the young authors up
to 27 years of age.

8. Ratkovic’s Evenings of Poetry
give special attention to the
affirmation and motivation of
young gifted creators in the
field of poetry, as well as to
establishing multicultural ties
among ex-Yugoslav countries
and connecting with the
literature of developed
European countries.

9. Special guests of the festival, editors of literary magazine "Poetry"
from Croatia, in the house of Risto Ratkovic.

10. Every year, in the library “Mostovi”, the festival presents one
young author by publishing the first book of poetry which
the jury picks out as the best that year at the open
competition.

11. Also, every year, in the library “Ratkovic’s Evenings of
Poetry” editorial staff of the festival presents one anthology
of poetry or the panorama of one of the national literatures
from the surrounding area (last year, we presented
contemporary Slovenian poetry) with the goal of spreading
this project so it presents contemporary authors from the
rest of European countries and the world.

12. Contemporary Slovenian Prestigious prize for literature
poetry, "Miroslav jevandjelje", according to
editor Primoz Repar, the oldest written monument
published by Ratkovic’s southern Slovenian, awarded every
Evenings of Poetry third year in Bijelo Polje author of
the best published book from
Montenegro.

13. Programs of the festival “Ratkoviceve veceri poezije”
(Ratkovic’s Evenings of Poetry), literary conferences, art
exhibitions, poetry evenings, discussions on current literary
issues, theatrical plays and performances, are held in various
places: in closed spaces, in the hall of the house in which Risto
Ratkovic was born, in the libraries, cultural center, but also in
nature.

14. Next year it will be the 40th anniversary of the festival and
for that occasion special programs will be organized with the
idea to spread the literary program throughout another few
Montenegrian towns.

15. Also, the first issue of the magazine in which the
contributions from the festival program will be published in
whole is in plan.

16. The organizer and the
general sponsor of the
festival “Ratkovic’s Evenings
of Poetry” is the Ministry of
Culture of the Republic of
Montenegro,
and the executive organizer
is the Municipality of
Bijelo Polje.

17. Ljubeta Labovic
Art-director of
“Ratkoviceve veceri poezije”
(Ratkovic’s Evenings of Poetry)
Jovanka Uljarevic
Presentation