A contest is also kind of a contemporary documentation. We want to encourage plays that refer to the current situation either by telling a story from the past or by telling an actual one. Currently we have big changes in our world. The cold war ended, the cultural clash between islam and christianity is announced. Globalisation changes the political structures. In every European country today the question of social balance is discussed.
On the Balcan a new society grew.
We want to know what they have to say.

In the name of all partners all the best and good luck,
Christian Papke

(Jury Members Vida Ognjenovic und Mark Marku)

Since 2005 the Austrian Drama Contest “Talking About Borders” has taken place every year in a different country in the region of Eastern Europe.
This project is mainly organized by Austrian supporters:

All playwrights of the particular country, in which the contest takes plays, are welcome to submit a new play, that deals with the issue of borders and the experience of life in times of social, economical and political transition.

The basic idea of this competition is for both sides to gain an impression of contemporary cultural achievements.

The project is an invitation to an exchange of views, to a dialogue and can also be seen as a meeting point of ideas.

We hope that a large number of writers of great literary and linguistic merit will take part in the competition to give an impressive overall picture of the intensity of creative and artistic life in ROMANIA 2011.

(Croatian Winner Goran Fercec with Ambassador Dr. Emil Brix)

An international jury chooses the best submitted drama and rewards a price fee of 3.500 EUR.

Also part of the price is a translation into German language, a publication in a first edition of 11.000 copies, distribution of the play among all relevant German speaking theatres & a presentation of the play at the second biggest German Book Fair in Leipzig & a public reading in Vienna (in presence of the winning author).

The organizers also provide a stage production of the play at National Theatre Karlsruhe.

There is no participation fee. Everyone can submit.

(Jury Members Goran Stefanovski und Jovan Cirilov)

(Jury Members Tena Stivicic and Dino Mustafic)

The annually changing jury consists of five professionals members.

In 2011 the jury is still not nominated.

Jury members so far:

Emilija Andrejevic
Gerald Bauer
Svetla Beneva
Andreas Beck
Youri Datchev
Ferida Durakovic
Adonis Filipi
Dusan Gojkov
Wolfgang Greisenegger
Mark Marku
Ivan Medenica
Dino Mustafic
Vida Ognjenovic
Klaus Detlef Olof
Christian Papke
Jürgen Popig
Aleksandar Popovksi
Christian Römer
Goce Smilevski
Peter Spuhler
Goran Stefanovski
Tena Stivicic
Zeljka Turcinovic

(Jury Members Ivan Medenica, Ferida Durakovic, Andreas Beck)

PROJECT EXECUTING ORGANISATION

The Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs and the Austrian P.E.N.-Center.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

DR. CHRISTIAN PAPKE

Christian Papke was born in Switzerland, in a German family, but grew up in Brazil. He studied theatre, literature, social and economic science and philosophy in Vienna, Paris, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Hamburg, working his way through university by directing a dance group. He also taught at the University of Vienna as a teaching assistant, defending his doctoral thesis in 2001. He began his career in direction with Dorfman’s Death and the Maiden, which has been followed by musical performance, radio dramas and theatre plays. In 2002, he established a small, socially engaged organisation, through which he has organised over 150 social events in the following years. Three years later, Papke started the intercultural initiative, the International Drama Competition for Eastern Europe TALKING ABOUT BORDERS. This opened the doors to his further work at the Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs. Papke is also the youngest member of the Austrian PEN Centre.

(Dr. Christian Papke)