Alternative culture festivals Komuna and FALIŠ highlight regional arts

Regional alternative culture is being highlighted through two distinct festivals in the Balkans. The inaugural Komuna festival, organized by Isidora and Ana, is set to take place on September 11 and 12. Bringing together the alternative scenes of Čačak and Novi Sad, the event relies entirely on audience donations and community enthusiasm rather than institutional funding. The program features musical performances alongside literary discussions, reflecting the intersection of music and writing among the participating artists.

In Croatia, the 14th edition of the Šibenik Festival of Alternative and Leftist Culture (FALIŠ) is currently underway under the theme ‘Apocalypse is Upon Us’. The festival aims to address the immediate social and political consequences of global crises. A featured event included the promotion of the book ‘Eight Days in May’ by Goran Gavranović and Boris Rašeta, which explores the final days of the NDH and the establishment of Yugoslavia through the personal stories of ordinary citizens.