ne:Bitef alternative festival to hold 60 micro-events across Belgrade

The second edition of ne:Bitef, a self-organized alternative to the official Bitef theatre festival, will take place on September 20 across 60 micro-locations throughout Belgrade. The event is scheduled to run from 12:00 to 18:00, with free admission at all sites.

Organizers established ne:Bitef as a response to ongoing financial, administrative, and programmatic repression facing the official festival, as well as censorship regarding last year's selection. The initiative aims to bypass traditional institutional systems by utilizing independent cultural centers, bookstores, cafes, and private residences. Each micro-scene will be led by a local cultural worker nominated by the community to present artists or works connected to the 60-year history of Bitef.

The movement has seen international solidarity, with six out of seven plays originally selected for the official Bitef program withdrawing in protest. The ne:Bitef program will conclude at 19:00 at the Center for Cultural Decontamination with performances and discussions involving local and international artists.