Rome and Berlin host major contemporary arts festivals

Major contemporary art festivals have launched in Rome and Berlin. In Rome, the 41st edition of the Romaeuropa Festival (REF) began on September 8 and will run until November 15. The event features over 1,000 artists and 100 shows across approximately 20 different venues, including the Auditorium Parco della Musica and MAXXI. The programming includes music, theater, dance, and digital arts, with upcoming performances by artists such as Benjamin Millepied, Fatoumata Diawara, and the Philip Glass Ensemble.

In Berlin, the inaugural Kirill & Friends Festival is taking place through September 13. Created by director Kirill Serebrennikov, the festival serves as an international meeting point for theater, cinema, dance, and visual arts. A central highlight is the production ‘Legende’ at the Komische Oper, inspired by filmmaker Sergei Parajanov, which explores themes of artistic freedom and political persecution.