BANJALUKA – The ninth edition of the regional literature festival “Imperativ”, organized by the association for the promotion and popularization of literature of the same name, started yesterday, May 30, at the Cultural Center Banski dvor.
As announced by the organizers, the official festival program began on Saturday in the Concert Hall of the Banski Dvor, with the opening of the Book Fair at 5 pm and the broadcast of the documentary film “Poet’s Homeland” about Aleksa Šantić, produced by Radio-Television of the Republic of Srpska. The director of the film is Branko Lazić, and the screenwriter is Saša Berendika. As part of the “Conversation with the Writer” program, writers Darko Tuševljaković and Tanja Stupar Trifunović presented the novel “Karota” for which, as they recall from “Imperativa”, Tuševljaković received the NIN award this year.
“Through the story of Davor and five boys whose lives are marked by events from the past, the novel gradually reveals layers of memory, questioning and suppressed truths. Encounters with childhood friends raise a series of questions about responsibility, forgiveness and the lasting consequences of relationships that cannot be changed even after several decades. It is particularly emphasized that the novel thematizes violence, guilt and inner wounds that shape the individual and the community, with a strong narrative certainty and believability”, it was announced from “Imperative”.
As part of the “Notes and letters” program, as announced below, a conversation entitled “The eighties were years” was held, dedicated to the decade that left a strong mark on the culture, music and social events of the region. Snježana Banović, Miljenko Jergović and Petar Janjatović spoke about the eighties, as stated in the “Imperativa” announcement, connecting their own works and personal experiences with the spirit of that period.
“The interlocutors reflected on how the 1980s shaped their creativity, but also on the broader cultural space, emphasizing that it was a time of strong social changes, a lively music scene and intense cultural exchanges. The conversation interwoven personal stories and reflections on the atmosphere of that era,” it was stated from “Imperative”, adding that a special part of the conversation was dedicated to their books – “Chronicle of happy moments”, “1983” and “YU ROCK encyclopedia” – which on they archive and interpret the spirit of the eighties in different ways.
The host of the evening was journalist Branislav Predojević, and Dragan Moconja and Vanja Cvijanović took care of the musical part of the program.
This year’s edition of “Imperativa” is held under the slogan “Turn the page” and lasts until Wednesday, June 3.
