19. 10. 2009.

The East West Center Awarded a Golden Laurel

The ceremony to award the Golden Laurel Wreath Award for contribution to the art of theatre was held today, 19 October 2009, at 12 noon at the Meeting Point Cinema. One of this year’s recipients of the outstanding recognition awarded by the MESS Theatre Festival is the East West Center.

In the opening part of the ceremony, East West Centre producer Ismar Hadžiavdić addressed those gathered at Meeting Point, expressing his pleasure at receiving the award, and announcing a short video film about all the productions of the Centre. He also read a telegram sent by actress Branka Petrić, who expressed her sadness at not being able to attend the ceremony in person, and used the opportunity to thank Haris Pašović for his extraordinary work in the past twenty years. Also addressing those present at the ceremony was Lidija Stevanović, an associate of the East West Center, who said that Pašović had, in establishing this acting troupe, made their college dream a reality.

After the screening of the video film, MESS Festival Director Dino Mustafić officially presented the Golden Laurel Wreath Award to Haris Pašović, saying that it was the first time in the history of the MESS that this award was presented to a theatre troupe, rather than a theatre individual, but that the East West Center was really a professional group that has invested skill in, and dedicated their lives to theatre.

Upon receiving the award, Pašović argued that the East West Centre would really be nothing without its audiences, who have made possible and recognized the troupe’s existence and artistic efforts. He emphasized that what the Center shares with MESS was its antifascist platform, as well as a common aesthetic and cosmopolitan point of view, and used the opportunity to thank the MESS on behalf of his artistic group.

The East West Center was the second recipient of the Golden Laurel Wreath Award. Its first recipient this year was Oskar Danon, who also opened this year’s MESS Festival. (J. B.)