Directors: "Youth Theater Fund" is important, but the evaluation of the projects should be by people who know dramaturgy well

"Youth Theater Fund" continues with its second edition throughout 2023. This year too, this fund will go to theater projects, which will bring young directors to the stage. For various directors, the fund is seen as one more opportunity for young people to bring theatrical works to the stage. But according to them, attention should also be shown in the evaluation of the projects that will be submitted and financed through this fund, which has been granted by the Ministry of Culture. Director Eliona Thomaraj says that the "Theater Fund for Young People" is important. Thomaraj brings to attention the Festival of Young Directors, for which several theatrical works were performed on stage from a budget dedicated to the performances, and says that with its closure, young people had no opportunity to promote themselves. "I see the "Youth Theater Fund" as something positive, because it gives young people the opportunity to put theater pieces on stage. It used to be the Festival of Young Directors and let's not forget that Elma Doresi, Rovena Lule and others came out of that festival. But by closing this festival, the young people could not even promote themselves. The return of the fund for young people in the theater is a good thing, but the evaluation of the projects should be by those who know dramaturgy well. And a year ago it was good that there were collaborations with other theaters, where the plays were put on several stages. There was cooperation from Durres, the Korça theater, etc., says the director Thomaraj, who with her activity has brought various theater works to the stage and has always asserted that support is also needed for young people in the theater. For director Vladimir Doda, funding for young people should be a priority. He says that a lot of attention should be paid to who will evaluate these projects. "The Theater Fund for Young People" is important. I am trying to organize material for a project, but for the youth fund personally I am out of age. Funding for young people should certainly be a priority in every area. But there are different problems here. What does a young director mean? A 35-year-old director is not called young in Germany or France, and maybe not even in Italy anymore. Then by whom are the projects evaluated specifically (do they have competence)? Because they must be playwrights or people who know dramaturgy well", says director Doda. I am trying to organize material for a project, but for the youth fund personally I am out of age. Funding for young people should certainly be a priority in every area. But there are different problems here. What does a young director mean? A 35-year-old director is not called young in Germany or France, and maybe not even in Italy anymore. Then by whom are the projects evaluated specifically (do they have competence)? Because they must be playwrights or people who know dramaturgy well", says director Doda. I am trying to organize material for a project, but for the youth fund personally I am out of age. Funding for young people should certainly be a priority in every area. But there are different problems here. What does a young director mean? A 35-year-old director is not called young in Germany or France, and maybe not even in Italy anymore. Then by whom are the projects evaluated specifically (do they have competence)? Because they must be playwrights or people who know dramaturgy well", says director Doda. Then by whom are the projects evaluated specifically (do they have competence)? Because they must be playwrights or people who know dramaturgy well", says director Doda. Then by whom are the projects evaluated specifically (do they have competence)? Because they must be playwrights or people who know dramaturgy well", says director Doda.

Fund and works

 The theater projects benefiting from this fund are realized under the auspices of the National Experimental Theater "Kujtim Spahivogli", in cooperation with the theaters of the districts, bringing attention to contemporary Albanian dramaturgy at the national level; inclusiveness of young artists in the theater discipline; enrichment of the theater fund by young people. The age of the creators and performers of the work must be up to 35 years. The committee that selects the works and the directors with their presentations is the Artistic Board of the National Experimental Theater "Kujtim Spahivogli". In the announcement of the National Experimental Theater it is stated that through the "Theatre Fund for Youth, in 2023", with an amount of 10,000,000 lek, the aim is to encourage and activate young creators and performers, bringing back the youth festival in a new form , revitalization and the theater movement at the country level as well as the creation of the theater movement based on the regions. District theaters will support the projects of this fund, through theater logistics, scenography and costume design according to their budget possibilities. TKES opened applications on January 23 and will continue until March 23. The winners will be announced in April.