CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

for participation in the
32nd FESTIVAL OF ECOLOGICAL THEATRE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Bačka Palanka, Serbia
19th – 23rd August 2026

The Festival of Ecological Theatre for Children and Youth is open for applications for performances that will be part of our 32nd Festival, which will take place from 19th to 23rd August 2026 in Bačka Palanka, Serbia.

We invite all professional theatres for children and youth to send their applications and participate in the 32nd edition of the Festival.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Plays are intended for children and youth;
• Plays are performed by professionals;
• Every type of theatrical performance is eligible (puppet show, drama, dance, shadow theatre, object theatre, (non)verbal performances, musicals...)

Following will have priority:

• Performances on the topics of ecology, mental health of children and youth, rights of children and youth, treatment of others and different ones;
• Performances exploring forms such as interactive theatre, participative, hybrid, immersive, ambient, digital, etc.;
• Performances using modern technologies, object theatre, sustainable materials or performed outdoors;
• Performances exploring the field of ecology of process and working towards green transformation in the theatre;

FINANCIAL TERMS OF HOSTING:

Independent productions– the Festival pays them a fee for performing a play and provides them with hotel accommodation (full board) during the Festival and local transport. Travel expenses are provided by the producer (association, troupe, informal group, etc.). The Festival is open to suggestions and initiatives about jointly raising additional means for travel expenses. We have successfully cooperated with embassies, foundations, institutes, and other legal entities in organizing guest appearances of productions from other countries (Denmark, Australia, Spain, Italy, etc.). We are also open to organizing additional guest appearances of foreign productions in theaters geographically close to our city.

Institutions – the Festival provides them with hotel accommodation (full board) during the Festival. Since the institutions have the option to include participation in festivals into their annual budgets, we believe this to be one of the positive models on how institutions can strengthen and support the independent and decentralised scene for children, as well as towns without theatres, such as Bačka Palanka.

Please make sure you specify all your expenses in the application form, according to the type of production of your play.

HOW TO APPLY:

Complete the

> FORM <

All entries must be submitted no later than October 15th, 2025!

Applications submitted after the stated deadline, as well as incomplete applications, will be considered invalid. You will be notified about the preliminary selection results via e-mail by 15th November, while Google Forms will automatically inform you that your application has been submitted. All of the attached materials remain in the Festival’s archives, and are used exclusively for the selection and promotion of the Festival’s program (program book, posters, website, social networks, promo video).

Should you have any trouble with the online application form or any additional questions, feel free to contact us:

office@fep.org.rs

SELECTION PROCESS:

The selection process begins with an analysis of the received online applications. A selection of applications is forwarded to the Festival's Artistic Committee for review, after which a list of performances participating in the competing program of the 32nd Festival of Ecological Theatre for Children and Youth will be published.

The main criteria for the selection of performances are the artistic quality, corresponding to this-year’s selection priorities, as well as financial and technical possibilities of the Festival. Link to the technical specifications of stages in Bačka Palanka.

Applicants who pass the selection will be electronically informed about the preliminary results by November 15, 2025, while the final results will be announced on the Festival’s website (www.fep.org.rs) no later than July 1, 2026.

AWARD “GOOD TREE”

The Festival of Ecological Theatre for Children and Youth presents award “Good Tree” determined by different groups:

• Children's jury:
  • “Good tree” award for the play most relatable to children


• Youth jury:
  • “Good tree” award for the play most relatable to youth


• Professional jury:
  • "Good tree" award for the play that promotes ecological values*
  


• Audience:
  • Award for the best play based on audience votes

Three optional individual awards, decided by and based on the professional jury's judgment and suggestions (such as a special award, acting awards, visual identity award, etc.) *We strongly believe that the ecological way of thinking in theatre can develop new ways to inspire children to understand sustainability not only as care for nature, but also as the need for tolerance, equality, solidarity, justice, health, hope, respect, and love for nature, oneself, and others: as the ecology of the spirit and the ecology of peace.

The Festival of Ecological Theatre for Children and Youthis a Serbian non-profit organisation founded in 1994. We are committed to solving problems in culture and ecology in different ways. Our main struggle is to bring the culture to the small and neglected parts of our country and to enable children from small communities to use their cultural rights, which the Convention of Child Rights establishes. The Festival is held in Bačka Palanka, a small town in Vojvodina, and includes theatre shows from theatres all over the world. At our Festival, you can see various theatre plays addressing critical environmental and social issues. Entrance to the festival is not paid with money but with recyclable materials. The bicycle is promoted as an ecological means of transport. Side events of the festival include workshops for all ages, music programme, public discussions, round tables, exhibitions, etc. It is important for us to understand ecology not only as caring for the environment, but also as the ecology of the spirit and the ecology of peace. These are prerequisites for higher quality, broader, and more meaningful creation for children and youth.