The Mostar Puppet Theatre Ensemble participated from September 12 to 18, 2025, at the 58th International Puppet Theatre Festival PIF in Zagreb with the play Utopia.
In the competition of performances from 12 countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Chile, Estonia, Italy, Canada, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Spain and Croatia – the Mostar Puppet Theatre particularly stood out with its performance Utopia and won the award:
Award for best visual identity went to the Mostar Puppet Theatre – Mario Tomašević for the play Utopia.
We are extremely proud of the success of the show. Utopia, which was professionally performed by the cast: Marta Haubrich, Tibor Oreč, Ivan Nevjestić and Jadranka Popović-Miljko.
Show Utopia talks about the beauty and importance of art. At the heart of the story is the thesis that art is an integral part of life and that without it we cannot fully develop ourselves. The play is intended for children over 10 years of age, but also for adults.
The International Puppet Theatre Festival PIF brought together theatres from several continents over six days, from September 12th to 18th, confirming its status as one of the most important puppet festivals in Europe.
In the official and competitive programs, the audience had the opportunity to enjoy top-notch puppetry performances that bring different aesthetic, cultural and performance approaches. Among all these world theaters, it was an exceptional honor for us to simply participate in the festival.
We are proud that our small theater has confirmed its artistic and professional greatness and won another award. This award at a prestigious festival has given us additional impetus to continue creating art, and has also confirmed the thesis that, despite modest conditions, persistent work and enthusiasm can achieve global success.
The festival showcased numerous disciplines that focus on puppetry and its contributions. In addition to exhibitions, the program also included puppetry workshops for different ages, film screenings, and book presentations.
Every year, PIF reminds us that puppetry is not just entertainment, but an art of subtle communication and expression. A puppet is a mirror of the inner world – it transcends age boundaries and, through movement, metaphor and symbolism, opens up space for social, philosophical and emotional issues.