What began in 2017 as a literary gathering has matured into one of the Adriatic’s most coherent multidisciplinary platforms, uniting literature, theatre, music, opera, fine arts and programmes devoted to cultural and spiritual heritage.

Back when I was a kid I thought it would be fun to teach myself Russian. It was absolutely fun, but I’m no polyglot, and my Russian learning did not get very far. Not much beyond “Coffee,please, comrade! But I did fall in love with the Cyrillic alphabet and, much later, the Adriatic coast..

So when the tenth “In Cyrillic” Festival opened 24 August (runs until Sept 15 at the Square Between the Churches in Budva’s Old Town, Montenegro) I was there in spirit, if not in peron.

What began in 2017 as a literary gathering has matured into one of the Adriatic’s most coherent multidisciplinary platforms, uniting literature, theatre, music, opera, fine arts and programmes devoted to cultural and spiritual heritage.

From Enthusiasm to Institution

Founded by the National Library “Miroslav Luketić” and the Association of Publishers and Booksellers of Montenegro under the Municipality of Budva’s patronage, the festival set out to keep Cyrillic alive rather than merely commemorate it.

In a report fr Vijesti, editor Mila Baljević recalled the 2017 launch: “We knew we were starting something that should last.” Director and editor-in-chief Radomir Uljarević adds that the script “has no need to defend itself from a position of weakness, but to affirm itself through its own artistic strength.”

Past editions have hosted Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk and other regional and international authors, steadily placing Budva on the cultural map of south-east Europe.

The Jubilee Programme

This anniversary edition is among the richest yet. Opening night featured the book promotion of Cyril and Methodius, Who Are You? and the exhibition “I Would Be a Letter” by Milivoje Babović in the Church of Santa Maria in Punta.

Six theatre titles include premieres of Cyril and Methodius, Who Are You?, Impurity Blood, Around the World and The Ruler, plus the opera Il segreto di Susanna are set for 27 August. A concert by Greek Orthodox protopsalt Nicodemos Kabarnos on 28 August will bring Byzantine chant into contemporary performance. Literary evenings spotlight Metropolitan Joanikije, Dragan Hamović, Jovan Delić, Igor Marojević and Sinan Gudžević, Biljana Krstić and the Bistrik Orchestra.

Heritage and Continuity

Throughout its history the festival has illuminated Budva’s own cultural layers – from Stefan Mitrov Ljubiša and the Zanović brothers to the medieval Statute and Paštrović documents. The “Saint Stefan Štiljanović” award, named after the last prince of the Paštrovići, will this year be presented to playwright Dušan Kovačević.

The View From The Beach

For publishers and booksellers the festival demonstrates how a script-centred platform can sustain literary production, cross-disciplinary collaboration and public engagement. By treating Cyrillic as a creative force rather than a relic, “In Cyrillic” offers a working model of cultural affirmation that remains both local and European.

I wish I could be there.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.