Balkan Trafik celebrates its 5th birthday in style - Bozar.be

Table of contentsPress release............................................................................................................................ 2Festival concept ....................................................................................................................... 3Programme overview .............................................................................................................. 5Programme in detail ................................................................................................................ 7Workshops .............................................................................................................................. 20Complementary activities ..................................................................................................... 21Practical information.............................................................................................................. 241

Balkan Trafik celebrates its 5th birthday in styleA birthday edition calls for fireworks – and there will be no shortage of those during the fifthedition of the Balkan Trafik festival. The line-up includes big names like Bregov ić with a uniquenew project, the latest Tanov ić film and the Marković orchestra, but also the Balkan Boat, afestiv e cruise on the Brussels canal!This year sees the fifth edition of Balkan Trafik! Once again, the festival, which takes place overseveral days in the Centre for Fine Arts, promises a colourful mix of cultures, unique in Europe. FromThursday 14 to Sunday 17 April the festival offers music, film, theatre, dance, and workshopsfrom all over Southern Europe, with local stars, artists from the diaspora, and unique creationsfeaturing artists from both ends of the continent. Balkan Trafik mixes styles and genres, fromtraditional folk music to electro, alongside today's best brass bands and the leading lights of the jazzand rock scenes.For its birthday edition Balkan Trafik has lined up a series of big names: the great Goran Bregov ićwill be back with his lavish musical project Margot, Memoirs of an Unhappy Queen; but also filmdirector Danis Tanov ić and the celebrated Boban I Marko Markov ić brass band will be there, as willthe internationally renowned Turkish rockband, Duman. Last but not least, to celebrate Balkan Trafik'sfifth birthday in style, this year also sees the launch of the Balkan Boat, which will open the festiv alwith a festive cruise on the Brussels canal.Opening evening: Balkan Boat and preview with Danis TanovićOn Thursday 14 April the festival gets off to a flying start. For the first time, Balkan Trafik sends aBalkan Boat out on the Brussels canal with one of the very best of today's brass bands, the OrkestarBraka Kadrievi. Tickets for this prestigious opening event can now be booked onwww.balkantrafik.com. In the evening film-lovers can enjoy the prev iew of Cirkus Columbia, thefourth film by the Bosnian film-maker Danis Tanović, in the presence of the director. Tanović's firstfilm, No Man's Land, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2001. Cirkus Columbia, apolitical comedy, is set in the lead-up to the Balkan Wars in the early 1990s, a period the directorhimself lived through. The film also looks at the present state of affairs in that corner of Europe.Bregović, Duman, and carte blanche for Tcha LimbergerFriday 15 April, the first multidisciplinary day of the festival, opens with the Goran Bregović projectMargot, Memoirs of an Unhappy Queen, which was premiered in France last year at the Festival deMusique de St. Denis. Margot has been described as a "recitando accompagnato", a monologue withorchestral accompaniment. Bregović is joined onstage by his famous Weddings and FuneralsOrchestra, a six-strong male choir, and a string quartet. The French opera actress Alyzée Soudetpresents the intriguing memoires of Queen Margot, which are transposed to a contemporary context,that of the war in Bosnia. A lavish project in which Bregović shows himself to be a fully-fledgedcomposer.On Friday Balkan Trafik offers music, in a variety of genres. The Belgian-Hungarian violin virtuosoTcha Limberger, perhaps the revelation of Balkan Trafik 2010, has been given carte blanche. Hepresents a sample of the best of Belgian Roma music. Under the heading Kabaret Manouche, hepresents 2 formulas: on Friday he plays alongside – amongst others – his father Vivi Limberger, onSaturday with the new manouche jazz group Les Violons de Bruxelles. The Turkish rock groupDuman – nicknamed “the Turkish Nirvana” – is extremely popular in its homeland (it has 500,000 fanson Facebook) and has played at major venues worldwide. This will be the group's first performance inBelgium! The quartet led by the Hungarian cimbalom virtuoso Kálmán Balogh, like the Bulgarianaccordion master Peter Ralchev, draws on a variety of Balkan folk and modern influences.2

In between the "big" concerts, there will be things happening in every corner of the Centre for FineArts, from short films to brass bands and from the Greek Rembetiko Kafe (with Nolas Antonis & GyrasNikolaos) to the Balkan Bazaar and a miniature puppet theatre. A real fortune-teller of the HungarianRoma community will tell the future on Friday and Saturday. The party will last until the wee smallhours with the French DJ duo Raki Balkan Sound System, with a 100% manélé & tiganeascanight.Boban I Marko Marković, accordions, brass bands, jazz – and theatreThe Balkan Trafik birthday party continues on Saturday with Boban I Marko Markov ić. Markovićfather and Marković son have been playing together for almost ten years now in this celebrated,ceaselessly innovative Serbian brass band. Another band, specially created for the occasion, theBalkan Accordions Project, brings together the best accordion players from the Balkans and fromthe diaspora, such as Boban Bjelić, Peter Ralchev and Ionică Minune. Another of Saturday's highlightswill be the brass band battle between the official (Ekrem Mamutovic Orkestar) and the unofficialwinner (Orkestar Braka Kadrievi) of the prestigious Guča festival in Serbia. On Friday the two bandswill play separately; on Saturday there will be a musical confrontation that is sure to generate plenty offireworks and decibels. Those who like things a little quieter can enjoy, among others, the jazzy divaAmira, the acclaimed young singer who has given new momentum to sevdah (a kind of Bosnian fado)or take in the previews of three documentaries. The members of the Bulgarian Fusion Embassy willplay live sets until six in the morning.Earlier, at lunchtime, there will be theatre: Journal d'une Femme du Kosovo, inspired by a diary keptby an Albanian human rights activist during the war in Kosovo. Journal d'une Femme du Kosovo is thefirst female testimony from the Kosovo war to be seen in a Belgian theatre. This powerful, movingstory will be presented by an actress and a musician from the Albanian diaspora in Brussels. Theperformance will be followed by a workshop in the presence of amongst other writer Sevdije Ahmeti,on the theme of women in war situations.Balkan Feature Film Day on SundayAs it did last year, Balkan Trafik closes with a day of films. On Sunday 17 April the Balkan FeatureFilm Day presents three fiction films: 1 avant-première and 2 special screenings.Coproduction: BOZAR, 1001 ValisesWith the support of: Embassy of Serbia, H ungarian C ultural C entre, Institutul Cultur al Român, Hungarofest, BIJ, Communautéfrançaise de Belgique, Vlaamse Over heid, Régi on de Bruxelles-Capitale, COCOF, WBIThis project is co-funded by the European U nionWatch all video clips for the 5th edition of Balkan Trafik here(available in high quality on demand):- Teaser: www.youtube.com/watch?v=feaCPXmXo2g- Interview Goran Bregović: www.bozar.be/webpage_broadcastitem.php?broadc_id=1330- Balkan Accordions Project: www.bozar.be/webpage_broadcastitem.php?broadc_id=13293

Festival conceptBalkan Trafik stands for an exchange of culture and experience, where the doors are opened tointegration, communication, sharing experiences, and opening up to others. The festival wants todispel prejudice against the Balkan countries by showing the cultural richness and diversity of theregion. In an atmosphere of unity and companionship the real Balkans are truthfully presented to theaudience.The Turkish word balkan means 'wooded mountain'. Although all wooded mountains could thereforebe called balkan, 'the Balkans' refers to the impressive mountain range that extends east-west acro ssBulgaria, joining the Carpathian Mountains to the North of the Danube. It is also the name given to theregion made up of the various European states that emerged out of the disintegration of the OttomanEmpire.The Balkan region became characterised by a huge diversity of expression linked to its verydiv erse ethnic backgrounds. This also created music that was a mixture of local sounds: Turkishrhythms, brass sounds, traditional Albanian dances, rebetiko, Bosnian sevdah, Roma gypsy songs,and fast accordion melodies. The Eastern inspiration in Balkan music is easily recognised andexplained when you know that many Roma gypsies scattered themselves throughout the wholeof the Balkans. And wherever they go, they adopt words and other cultural characteristics from thelocal inhabitants, adding them to their own language and their own culture. Hence the influence ofeach country they visited can be heard in the rhythms and tones of their music. At the heart ofeverything, however, in the centre of this complex mosaic, it is the Ottoman tradition that shinesthrough.In order to succeed with an artistic programme such as that of Balkan Trafik, BOZAR and 1001Valises are developing a growing network in the Balkan countries and the Diaspora in this country. Aclose link between the history and the current artistic reality of the region is thus guaranteed. In theCentre for Fine Arts all art forms are given a place: music, film, theatre, dance, workshops,exhibitions, and animation.For its fifth birthday, Balkan Trafik once again presents the best of the Balkans and the Diaspora inthe Centre for Fine Arts. New additions this year include rock music (Duman and Zdob şi Zdub),Kabaret Manouche – a carte blanche performance from the Belgian-Hungarian violin virtuoso TchaLimberger, a genuine brass band battle, and an electro Saturday night. The magnificent musicalproject Margot, Memoirs of an Unhappy Queen from Goran Bregović shows the versatility and aboveall the musical genius of this celebrated artist. Like the play Journal d’un Femme du Kosovo, Margotbroaches the difficult subject of war. The icing on the cake is the Balkan Accordion Project, uniquelycreated for the festival, with Boban Bjelić, Peter Ralchev, and Ionică Minune.4

Programme overviewTuesday 14 April – Opening night17:00 > 22:45 Balkan Boat (departure: Place des Armateurs/Redersplein)20:00 Preview Cirkus Columbia – Danis Tanović (Centre for Fine Arts, Hall M)Friday 15 AprilMUSIC19:00 Söndörgő (Hungary – Hall M)19:00 & 20:45 & 22:15 & 24:30 Kabaret Manouche: Limberger Family20:00 Goran Bregović – Margot, Memoirs of an Unhappy Queen (Serbia - Henry Le Bœuf Hall)20:00 Ilias Plastiras (Greece – Horta Hall)21:00 Ankara Folk Dance Musicians Association & Ankira Culture and Youth Club (Turkey – Hall M)22:15 Kálmán Balogh & Peter Ralchev (Hungary/Bulgaria – Hall M)23:00 Duman (Turkey – Horta Hall)01:15 Guča Brass Band Winner: Orkestar Ekrema Mamutovića (Serbia – Horta Hall)03:00 Raki Balkan Sound System – 100% “manélé & tiganeasca night” (France – Horta Hall)CINEMA: Best of Balkan Short Fiction (Studio)18:45 – 19:30 First session1) The Tube with a Hat by Radu Jude2) Party by Dalibor Matanić3) Tolerantia by Ivan Ramadan19:45 – 20:30 Second session1) Little Fighters by Ivana Lalovic2) Sunset from a Rooftop by Marinus Groothof3) Muzika in Sânge by Alexandru Mavrodineanu22:15 – 23:00 Third session1) Stopover by Ioana Uricaru2) Mi Hatice by Denis D. Metin3) She Who Measures by Veljko Popovic00:00 – 00:45 Fourth session1) Arpeggio Ante Lucem by Arin Inan Arslan2) 10 minutes by Ahmed Imamovic3) Stanka Goes Home by Radu Jude4) 8 by Aćim VasićWORKSHOPS18:30 > 19:15 Workshop Greek dance (Horta Hall)5

Saturday 16 AprilMUSIC - DANCE16:15 Ankara Folk Dance Musicians Association & Ankira Culture and Youth Club(Turkey – Henry Le Bœuf Hall)17:30 Shota (Kosovo – Henry Le Bœuf Hall)18:00 Bal klezmer Yiddish Tanz & Krupnik (Belgium – Horta Hall)19:00 Amira (Bosnia – Hall M)21:00 & 22:45 & 00:15 Kabaret Manouche: Les Violons de Bruxelles20:00 FESTIVAL CREATION: Balkan Accordions Project (Belgium/Serbia/Bulgaria/Romania –Henry Le Bœuf Hall)21:30 Zdob şi Zdub (Moldavia – Horta Hall)22:15 Elina Duni quartet (Albania – Hall M)23:15 Boban I Marko Marković (Serbia – Hall Horta)00:45 Brassband Battle: Orkestar Ekrem Mamutović vs. Orke star Braka Kadrievi(Belgium/Macedonia/Serbia – Horta Hall)02:30 Fusion Embassy: Live "Oratnitza", DJ Zinnat & Asian Detective + special guest "BulgarianChoir"CINEMA16:00 > 17:30: Special Screening - The Belgrado Phantom by Jovan Todorovic19:30 > 20:30 Special Screening - The World According to Ion B by Alexander Nanau22:15 > 23:45 Special Screening - Village without Women by Srdjan SarenacTHEATRE14:00 Journal d'une femme du Kosovo, followed by a debate (Hall M)WORKSHOPS15:00 > 15:45 Workshop Turkish dance (Horta Hall)15:00 > 16:00 Meet & Greet Journal d’une femme du Kosovo (Hall M)16:15 > 17:00 Workshop Shota dance (Horta Hall)17:00 > 17:45 Workshop ‘Secrets of Bulgarian Voices’ (Terarken)17:00 > 17:45 Master class Ionică Minune (Balkan Accordion Project) (Hall M)Sunday 17 April11:00 BOZARSUNDAYS Trio Giani Lincan (Romania – Henry Le Bœuf Hall)CINEMA: Balkan Feature Film Day (Studio)15:00 Avant-première - Bal by Semih Kaplanoglu18:00 Special Screening - Shelter (Podslon) by Dragomir Sholev20:00 Special Screening - Francesca by Bobby Păunescu6

Programme in detailTHURSDAY 14 APRIL – Opening night18:30 > 22:45 (departure: Place des Armateurs/Redersplein) + extra departure at 5pm !On the occasion of its 5th anniversary, Balkan Trafik will navigate a Balkan Boat on the Brussels canalwith one of the best brass bands of our time, the Orkestra Braka Kadrievi. This Belgian-Macedonianband gained international fame thanks to the soundtrack of Time of the Gipsies of Emir Kusturica andwas the unofficial winner of the last edition of the prestigious Guča Festival in Serbia. As from 11pmthey will continue on the quay, where Turkish dance group Anira Culture & Youth Club as well asTrotsky Tulsky have been performing since the start of the evening. To round off this feast you will beoffered the finest wines of the Balkan region, while enjoying a delicious, authentic Balkan barbecue.Practical informationAddress: Place des Armateurs/Redersplein, Entrance D 13, 1000 Brussels (accessible from Avenuedu Port/Havenlaan and Allée Verte/Groendreef)4 departures at 5pm (with Trotsky Tulski), 6.30 pm, 8 pm and 9.30 pm (sold out!)After the 6.30pm departure, a shuttle service to the Center for Fine Arts is provided for the preview ofCirkus Columbia.Reservations can be made until 15 April 2011 by e-mail: aline@1001valises.com. The first 20registrations for the 6.30 pm boat will receive a free entrance ticket for the preview of the movie CirkusColumbia upon request. The first 20 registrations for the 2 nd and 3 rd departures will receive a freeentrance ticket for the Balkan Feature Day. Please note: Only visitors with a paid reservation areallowed to board the Balkan Boat. On-the-spot payments are not accepted. The public is expected atthe quay 30 minutes before departure.20:00 Prev iew Cirkus Columbia – Danis Tanov ić (Centre for Fine Arts, Hall M)In presence of the directorCirkus Columbia is the fourth film by the Bosnian director DanisTanović. His first film No Man’s Land won the Academy Awardfor Best Foreign Language Film in 2001. It is a political comedyabout the onset of the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s, asexperienced by the director himself. A comedy that also hassomething to say about life in that part of Europe today.Photo: Cir kus Col umbiaA small town in the south of Bosnia-Herzegovina, on the eve of the war. After years and years of thecommunist regime, a new democratic government is elected; those who opposed communism aresuddenly pardoned. Time for Divko Buntic to return home and seek vengeance after years of exile. Hecomes back with a new wife, forty years younger than himself, a new Mercedes, a black cat, and lotsof money. His first act of revenge is to throw his ex-wife and his son out of his house. Everything, itseems to Divko, is working out for him and his money can guarantee him happiness. But the wheel offortune turns and one night his cat disappears; his son and his young wife, Azra, fall in love with eachother; and the war approaches his town. Everything starts to go wrong for Divko; he gets on top ofthings once more by winning back the only thing he ever really wanted - the real reason for his return:his ex-wife.Director: Danis Tanov ićWith: Miki Manojlov ic, Mira Furlan, Boris Ler, Jelena Stupljanin2010, Bosnia-Herzegovina & Belgium, 113’7

FRIDAY 15 APRILMUSIC19:00 Söndörgő (Hungary – Hall M)In their search for the most authentic jewels of southern Slavic folkmusic, this musical quintet from Hungary unearthed a treasure trove ofchromatic melodies. This was found not only in the songs but also in theuse of the Slavic tambura, which they play in a variety of ways on theirnew CD, Lost Music of The Balkans. This instrument of Iranian andTurkish origin takes the audience to a bittersweet and gripping Balkanuniverse with its unusual sound. Welcome to the world of Söndörgö…Photo: Söndörgőwww.sondorgo.hu19:00 & 20:45 & 22:15 & 24:30 Kabaret Manouche: The Limberger FamilyThe Belgian-Hungarian violin virtuoso Tcha Limberger, therevelation of Balkan Trafik 2010, plays a series of concertsthrough Friday and Saturday with a variety of personnel. Underthe banner of Kabaret Manouche, he provides a sampler of thebest Belgian Roma music.Friday 15: The Limberger Family with Vivi Limberger (guitar andvocals), Tcha Limberger (violin, guitar, and vocals), and VilmosCsiko s (double bass).Photo: Tcha LimbergerTcha Limberger, a musician of Belgian origin, was born into a family of brilliant musicians. His father,Vivi Limberger, is a guitarist, and his grand-father, Piotto Limberger, was a violinist and a major figurein the world of Dutch manouche jazz. Tcha took up the violin at the age of 17, before immersinghimself for 18 months in Budapest to perfect his playing with the violin master Horvat Bela. Also aguitarist and a singer, he plays in a number of astonishing groups with very different styles.20:00 Goran Bregov ić – Margot, Memoirs of an Unhappy Queen (Serbia – Henry Le Bœuf Hall)Goran Bregović, often associated with the renaissance of Balkan music andeven today the most famous Balkan composer, is our guest with an unusualproject. Margot: Memoirs of an Unhappy Queen is referred to as a ‘recitandoaccompagnato’, a monologue accompanied by an orchestra. Bregovićshared the stage with his renowned Weddings and Funerals Orchestra, asix-piece male voice choir and a string quartet. The young French operaactress Alyzée Soudet presents the intriguing memoirs of Reine Margot,translated into a contemporary context: the war in Bosnia during the first halfof the ‘90s. The project, grand in scale, shows Bregović to be a skilledcomposer.Photo: Portret Bregovic (c) Nikol a Babic, Orange Studio, Belgrade.8

Bregović has long been acquainted with the character of the French Queen Marguerite: in 1994, hecomposed the soundtrack to the film La Reine Margot by Patrice Chéreau. As the daughter of a king,the sister of three kings and the wife of a king (Henry IV), Reine Margot (1553 –1615) was anextremely regal person, though she never reigned. Why and how do we remember her? GoranBregović studied the life of this ‘unhappy Queen’ and sought a contemporary angle. He translates theaction into a living room in the Serbian quarter of Sarajevo, at the time of the war in 1991-1995.Composition & text / guitar, synthesiser, vocals: Goran BregovićActress: Alyzée SoudetThe Weddings and Funerals Orchestra is composed of: a Gypsy brass band (Alen Ademović,Bokan Stanković, Dalibor Lukić, Stojan Dimov, Aleksandar Rajković, Milos Mihaljlović), Bulgarianvoices (Ludmila Radkova-Trajkova, Daniela Radkova-Aleksandrova), sextet of male voices (DejanPesic, Nenad Cica, Igor Arizanovic, Vladimir Rumenic, Dusan Ljubinkovic, Sinisa Dutina) & a stringquartet (Ivana Matejic, Bojana Jovanovic, Sasa Mirkovic, Tatjana Jovanovic)www.goranbregovic.rs20:00 Ilias Plastiras (Greece – Horta Hall)The Ilias Plastiras rebetiko group plays traditional folk music,mainly from Epirus in northwest Greece.Photo: Ilias Plastiras21:00 Ankara Folk Dance Musicians Association & Ankira Culture and Youth Club(Turkey – Hall M)The Ankira Culture Art and Youth Club and the Ankara Folk Dance and Music Association were bothfounded to maintain the traditions of Turkish dance and musical folklore. A must for anyone wishing toget to know a broad sample of authentic folk dances from Turkey in a short space of time.22:15 Kálmán Balogh & Peter RalchevKálmán Balogh is a virtuoso on the cimbalom, a cross between azither and a vibraphone. As the offspring of Hungarian gypsystock with deep roots in history, he knows the tradition of theRoma like the back of his hand. He has done several world toursand has plays with masters such as Django Reinhardt and violinplayer Stephane Grapelli. Now he joins forces with the Bulgarianaccordion player Peter Ralchev, who himself is a masterfulmusician equally at home in Eastern European folk, Frenchmusette and classical music. Accompanied by guitar and bass,their music is a fast Balkan blend of nimble-fingered passages andoriental moods with jazzy accents. A musical whirlwind!Photo: Kál mán & Ralchevwww.kalmanbalogh.hu9

23:00 Duman (Turkey – Horta Hall)Duman have been called "the Turkish Nirvana". Their robust rock doesindeed have something in common with Seattle grunge (singer-songwriterKaan Tangöze lived in Seattle for a while), but it also draws on influencesfrom Turkish and Eastern folk music. The group is hugely popular inTurkey and has a growing number of fans worldwide. Their Brusselsconcert is a must not only for the young Turkish Diaspora, but also foranyone who loves solid, heartfelt rock.www.duman.web.trPhoto: D uman01:15 Guča Brass Band Winner: Orkestar Ekrem Mamutović (Serbia – Horta Hall)Orke star Ekrem Mamutović from Serbia won the prestigious GučaTrumpet festival in 2010, the unofficial brass band worldchampionship. The group, led by Ekrem Mamutović, great-grandson ofthe trumpet legend Bakija Bakić, is one of the most exciting brassbands of the moment.http://wn.com/ekremasPhoto: Ekrem Mamutović03:00 Raki Balkan Sound System – 100% “manélé & tiganeasca night” (France – Horta Hall)This DJ duo plays raging turbo folk, an energetic blend of Balkangrooves, gypsy punk, rom'n bass, Yugoslavian swing, Romanianska and much, much more.www.myspace.com/rakibalkansoundsystemPhoto: R aki Bal kan Sound System10

CINEMABest of Balkan Short Fiction (Studio)18:45 – 19:30 First session1) The Tube with a Hat by Radu Jude (Romania, 2007, 23’)2) Party by Dalibor Matanić (Croatia, 2009, 15')3) Tolerantia by Ivan Ramadan (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2008, 6’30’’)20:45 – 21:30 Second sessionPhoto: T olerantia1) Little Fighters by Ivana Lalovic (Bosnia/Switzerland, 2010, 15’)2) Sunset from a Rooftop by Marinus Groothof(Serbia/Netherlands, 2009, 10’)3) Muzika in Sânge by Alexandru Mavrodineanu(Romania/France, 2009, 16')Photo: Sunset from a R ooftop22:15 – 23:00 Third session1) Stopover by Ioana Uricaru (Malpensa/Roumenia, 2010, 14’)2) Mi Hatice by Denis D. Metin (Turkey, 2010, 21’)3) She Who Measures by Veljko Popovic (Croatia, 2008, 6'40'')00:00 – 00:45 Fourth sessionPhoto: She Who M easur es1) Arpeggio Ante Lucem by Arin Inan Arslan (Turkey, 2010, 15’)2) 10 minutes by Ahmed Imamovic (US, 2002,10’)3) Stanka Goes Home by Radu Jude (Bulgaria, 2010, 15’)4) 8 by Aćim Vasić (Switzerland/Serbia/Montenegro, 2010, 10’20’’)Photo: Stanka Goes Home11

SATURDAY 16 APRILMUSIC - DANCE16:15 Ankara Folk Dance Musicians Association & Ankira Culture and Youth Club(Turkey – Henry Le Bœuf Hall)17:30 Shota (Kosov o – Henry Le Bœuf Hall)The vocal and dance ensemble Shota specialises in folkdancing and music. With their authentic costumes andmeticulously-preserved melodies they travel the world. Bespirited away by their warm sounds and evocative dance steps.Photo: Shota18:00 Bal klezmer Yiddish Tanz & Krupnik (Belgium – Horta Hall)Yiddish Tanz and Krupnik race back and forth across the rich landscapeof traditional Jewish music. Using a virtuoso blend of acoustic andtraditional instruments, they invite the viewer to venture onto the dancefloor.Photo: Krupnik19:00 Amira (Bosnia – Hall M)Photo: AmiraThis young singer from Sarajevo with a fragile voice is often referred to as theBosnian Billie Holiday. The best comparison for the sevdah or sevdalinka is thePortuguese fado. In the Bosnian language sevdah means ‘love’ or ‘caress’.This predominantly female genre, often passed down from mother to daughter,means songs full of romantic sorrow and languorous desire. As a child, Amirawas fascinated by these songs and developed a unique voice with which shedelivers careworn interpretations of traditional gems from Bosnia andHerzegovina.www.amira.com.ba12

21:00 & 22:45 & 00:15 Kabaret Manouche: Les Violons de BruxellesThe Belgian-Hungarian violin virtuoso Tcha Limberger returns on Saturday, with Les Violons deBruxelles...Saturday 16: Les Violons de Bruxelles, featuring Tcha Limberger. With Renaud Crols (violin),Alexandre Tripodi (violin and viola), Renaud Dardenne (guitar), Vilmos Csiko s (double bass), andTcha Limberger (guitar, violin, and vocals)This new group brings together the best jazz violinists in Brussels! From the finest jazz, bebop, andmanouche standards to their own personal compositions, via a few sunny Brazilian choros, thesemusicians will take you on a journey to rich and surprising musical worlds, where the combination ofviolins sometimes gives the impression of a veritable string orchestra. Their music's quest for graceand beauty promises to bring great happiness.20:00 FESTIVAL CREATION: Balkan Accordion Project(Belgium/Serbia/Bulgaria/Romania – Henry Le Bœuf Hall)This ‘all-star’ band, especially created for the occasion, will honour themagic of Balkan accordion playing. The project brings together thegreatest virtuosos from a variety of styles, from the classical playing ofthe Serbian Boban Bjelić, to the extreme Bulgarian ornamentation ofPeter Ralchev, via the legendary Ionică Minune, the Romanian whohas dominated the world of the accordion for the last 30 years. Otherartists accompanying them are: Tcha Limberger (violin and vocals),Cristinel Turturica (cimbalom), Angel Dimitrov (guitar), Vilmos Csiko s(double bass), and surprising guests!A collaboration with the Institutul Cultural Român and Kopanica asbl,under the artistic direction of Nicolas Hauzeur.Photo:Ionică Minunewww.ionicaminune.com21:30 Zdob şi Zdub (Moldav ia – Horta Hall)The Moldavian band Zdob şi Zdub (pronounced: Zdob shi Zdub)plays a totally unique blend of hard rock and folklore from theirhomeland. Add hip hop, drum 'n' bass, jungle and punk to the mixand you have an idea of the musical cocktail these ethno-rockersserve up. With their solid live reputation they have opened forbands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Korn, Rollins Band, RageAgainst The Machine and Fun Lovin' Criminals. And on top of that,Zdob şi Zdub will represent Moldavia at the Eurovision SongContest later year!Photo: Z dob şi ZdubWith the support of the Institutul Cultural Românwww.zdob-si-zdub.com13

22:15 Elina Duni quartet (Albania – Hall M)Photo: Elina D uni (c) Francesca Pfefferwww.elinaduni.comWith only two albums to her name, Elina Duni is a granddame of the stage. This Albanian beauty was on the scenefrom the age of five. When the troubles in the Balkans beganshe moved to Geneva at an early age. There, Elina sang atthe conservatorium and formed her own quartet. Along withColin Valon on piano, Patrice Moret on bass and NorbertPfammater on drums, she performs her unique jazzyinterpretation of traditional songs from south-eastern Europe.Her second album, Lume Lume, presents an Elina Duni faraway from the folklore clichés and performs emotional andlively ethno-jazz with her powerful and expressive voice.23:15 Boban I Marko Markov ić (Serbia – Horta Hall)The band of the Serbian trumpeter Boban Marković, renowned from thefilms of Emir Kusturica (Arizona Dream, Underground), has been amongthe best brass bands of Central Europe for around ten years. It consistsof 12 musicians and plays an explosive mix of jazz and Balkan. In gypsymusic, life is short while the nights are long and packed with stories. Thestory of the Boban I Marko Marković Orkestar is one of a fathergradually passing the torch (and trumpet) to his son. He was basicallyborn with his trumpet and has been writing the scores for the orchestrasince he was sixteen.www.bobanandmarkomarkovic.comPhoto: Boban i Marko Mar kovic by Michael Mann00:30 Brassband Battle: Orkestar Ekrem Mamutov ić vs. Orkestar Braka Kadriev i (Macedonia/Belgium/Serbia - Hortahal)A commotion arose in 2010 at the prestigious GučaTrumpet festival, the unofficial world championship forbrass bands. The Macedonian Orkestar Braka Kadrieviwas the best in the eyes of many, but could not win as theywere not Serbian. The Orkestar Ekrem Mamutovićeventually took the honours. The two orchestras now faceeach other in an unprecedented brass band battle.http://wn.com/ekremas / www.kadrievi.comPhoto: Braka Kadrievi14

02:30 Fusion Embassy: Liv e "Oratnitza", DJ Zinnat & Asian Detective + special guest"Bulgarian Choir"Oratnitza (their name means: ritual cleansing by fire) mixes Bulgarianfolklore, Aboriginal motifs, orthodox chanting, dubstep, and drum ’n’bass. Their trancey rhythms inevitably induce involuntary dancing. ThisBulgarbeat, the newest craze in the Balkanbeat scene, is 100% live!www.myspace.com/asiandetectivewww.myspace.com/zinnatbghttp://oratnitza.comPhoto: OratnitzaCINEMABalkan Docs (Studio)16:00 > 17:30 Special Screening - The Belgrado Phantom by Jovan Todorovic (Hungary, Serbia,Bulgaria, 2009, 80’)In the late summer of 1979, while Yugoslavia was still a singlestate under Tito's control, a mysterious young man started stealingcars and using them for joyrides around nocturnal Belgrade.Authorities noted his predilection for white Porsches in particular.By openly defying the police and outfoxing them in wild car chases,he quickly grew into a popular hero. The Belgrade Phantomreconstructs the events using archive footage, interviews, anddramatized sequences, and only during the final credits do we hearPhoto: Belgrado Phantomthe voice of the actual Belgrade Phantom on old cassetterecordings. The new footage boasts an actor with a cool hairdo who envelops himself in dark silence.The soundtrack makes the 1970s atmosphere complete, and the mystery of the Belgrade Phantomremains intact in this film. He is described as a rebel without a cause, a Yugoslavian James Dean. Inhindsight, his provocative behavior towards the authorities can be read as an omen of the crumblingdictatorial regime. Ultimately, the Phantom was apprehended in a spectacular fashion and given arelatively short prison sentence. Shortly after his release, he was killed in unexplained circumstanceswhile driving a stolen Lada.15

19:30 > 20:30 Special Screening - The World According to Ion B. by Alexander Nanau (Romania,2009, 60’)You wouldn't immediately think that 60 year-old Romanian drifterIon Barladeanu was an exceptional exponent of pop art. And yetthe drunkard has suitcases full of impressive collages that he'sbeen making since the seventies. When gallery owner DanPopescu gets a tip about this artistic treasure, he takes thetramp under his wing. In the run-up to the exhibition he isfollowed by documentary film-maker Alexander Nanau. After asuccessful exhibition opening and international recognition, theyPhoto: T he World Accordi ng to Ion B visit the village where they artist was born, and from which hefled as a young man. The film is not only a moving portrait of a remarkable talent, but it also shows u show Romania still struggles with the burden of its communist past.Dokufest 2010 – Best Balkan DocumentaryGOPO Awards (Romanian National Film Awards) – Best Documentary 2010www.theworldaccordingtoionb.com22:15 > 23:45 Special screening - Village without Women by Srdjan Sarenac (Croatia/France,2010, 83’)In Southwest Serbia, atop a mountain and four kilometersfrom the nearest road, the Jankovic brothers hold down thefort in the womanless village of Zabrdje. Dragan, Zoran, andRodoljub, along with their neighbor, Velimir, represent theentire population of what was once a vibrant ruralcommunity. They live in tough conditions. No running water,no roads, not even a hint of a woman’s touch. Not tomention, the three brothers still share the same bedroom.Zoran, the eldest brother, dreams of marrying a womancapable of handling life in Zabrdje. Despite his efforts, hePhoto: Village without Womenfails to convince a Serbian woman to join them in the village.The solution might just be on the other side of the mountains, in Albania, where the situation is theother way around: lots of women, not very many men, but the memories of the war in Kosovo againstethnic Albanians are still fresh.International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) 2010http://www.villagewithoutwomen.com16

THEATRE14:00 Journal d'une femme du Kosovo (Hall M)The play Le Journal d’une Femme du Kosovo is acollective project that was started by the director, ZenelLaci, and motivated by the need to fulfil a duty ofremembrance towards Kosovan Albanians, because wemust not give in to the temptation to forget. Theatre musttackle important questions. The representation ofbarbarous acts or crimes against humanity may also have acathartic value.Photo: Journal d'une femme du KosovoThe performance evokes the atrocities committed against women during this time of violence andblood with exemplary dignity. It is, however, above all a story of love and freedom which speaks to theaudience through actress Anila Dervishi, who is supported by the musician, Afrim Jahja and byNimetulla Parlaku's heart-breaking images. This piece mixes sounds of rock guitar, voice recordings,universal declarations, dream-like projections, and love songs which set the theatre alight and bringthe actors and the audience together. It is a courageous and healing piece that refuses to accept theatrocities committed against minorities and vulnerable people, beginning with women and children.The play will be followed by a debate with Sevdije Ahmeti (author of the Journal and Kosovan humanrights activist), Jean-Yves Potel* (French author and academic specialising in Central and EasternEurope), Safet Kryemadhi (political scientist), and the production team including Zenel Laci (director)and Anila Dervishi (actress).*Jean-Yves Potel, author of the notes and introduction to the book Journal d’une femme du Kosovo bySevdije Ahmeti. Published by KARTHALA, 2001 – Preface by Bernard Kouchner, translated from theEnglish by Chantal Deltenre-De Bruycker and Daniel de Bruycker.Language: French (subtitles in Dutch and English)Director and set design: Zenel LaciAdaptation: Safet KryemadhiPerformance: Anila DervishiMusic: Afrim JahjaPictures/images/photos and video: Nimetulla Parlaku17

SUNDAY 17 APRIL11:00 BOZARSUNDAYS Trio Giani Lincan (Romania - Henry Le Bœuf Hall)Giani Lincan is a unique figure in the long line of talentedRomanian cymbalists. He started playing this complex instrumentat the tender age of six. Virtuoso Lincan brings together classical,jazz, and gypsy music, and is able to draw from an almostlimitless repertoire to suit the audience, depending on theirreaction. Along with his trio this chameleon allows us to see andhear a wealth of musical colours: a musical postcard from everycorner of 19th and 20th century Europe!Photo: Giani LincanGiani Lincan cymbalum - Janci Kekeni gitaar - Giuszi Rezmuves baswww.gipsylincan.comBalkan Feature Film Day (Studio)During the Balkan Feature Film Day the public is presented 3 feature films, 1 in avant-première and 2special screenings.15:00 Av ant-première - Bal by Semih Kaplanoglu (Turkey, 2010, 113’)Honey forms the third part of the Yusuf trilogy, after Milk andEgg. Six year-old Yusuf lives with his parents in a remote villagein Anatolia. He likes to accompany his bee-keeper father whilehe works in the immense woods – a place full of mystery andadventure. But life changes and Yusuf goes to school for thefirst time. Due to a mysterious bee die-off, his father has totravel further and further into the mountains each day. One dayhe doesn't return and Yusuf goes off to look for him.Photo: BalWinner of the Golden Bear at the 2010 Berlin Film Festivalwww.miel-lefilm.com18:00 Special Screening - Shelter (Podslon) by Dragomir Sholev (Bulgaria, 2010, 88’)In the presence of main actor Tzvetan DaskalovEmil Stoychev (Tzvetan Daskalov) gets a call from hiswife telling him that their 12-year-old son Radostin hasnot come home. The couple panics and calls thepolice, but when they get home, the grumpyadolescent turns out to be sitting in his room. He hasbrought a couple of new friends from the punk scenewith him. Emil is horrified to see them behave as ifPhoto: Shelterthey are at home. Radostin’s mother puts herself out toplease everyone. It seems inevitable that they will lose their grip on Radostin. The film takes place inone day and largely in the oppressive apartment of the Stoychev family. The events are carried alongby a striking soundtrack.Sofia International Film Festival 2011 – Grand Prix Award for Best Film18

20:00 Special Screening - Francesca by Bobby Păunescu (Romania, 2009, 96’)In the presence of director Bobby Păunescu and main actress Monica BarladeanuFrancesca is a film set against a background ofincreasing tensions between Italians and Romanians. Itcentres around Francesca, a young teacher fromBucharest who is eager to work in Italy but she's heardtoo many horror stories about the treatment ofimmigrants. She wants her boyfriend to join her but thenthings take an unfortunate turn. A vital piece of modernneorealism from a Romanian director who grew up inMilan.Photo: FrancescaVenice Film Festival 200919

WorkshopsFriday 1518:30 > 19:15 Workshop Greek dance (Horta Hall)For the ancient Greeks, dance was a fundamental part of primary education along with music, writingand physical education. They believed that a talent for dancing was a gift from the gods that the luckyrecipients had to pass on to their fellow men in turn. During Balkan Trafik a number of gifted dancersand musicians from the Centre Hellénique d'Études du Folklore will take on this task.Saturday 1615:00 > 15:45 Workshop Turkish dance (Horta Hall)The Ankira Culture Art and Youth Club and the Ankara Folk Dance and Music Association were bothfounded to uphold the traditions of Turkish dance and musical folklore. The members belong to thegreat dance companies of Ankara and have earned their stripes at international dance competitionsand festivals.15:00 > 16:00 Meet & Greet Journal d’une femme du Kosovo (Hall M)The play Journal d’une Femme du Kosovo, a woman’s account of the Kosovo war, is followed by aworkshop with director Zenel Laci and journalist Safet Kryemadhi among others. However, the mostimportant guest is the human rights activist Sevdije Ahmeti, whose authentic narrative supplied thematerial for the play. For everyone interested in a first-hand account of the consequences ofnationalism and intolerance.16:15 > 17:00 Workshop Shota dance (Horta Hall)The Shota dance, named after the Albanian folk heroine Shote Galica, is a sequence of rapid stepsaccompanied by exciting beats. Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere and test your agility withthis energetic dance under the approving eye of expert Dilaver Kryeziu.17:00 > 17:45 Workshop ‘Secrets of Bulgarian Voices’ (Terarken)Iliyana Naidenova and Veselka Stambolieva, two divas of Bulgarian song, share with the participantsthe secrets of the renowned Bulgarian voices. At the same time, the workshop provides anintroduction to the richly-patterned folk music and dances from the various regions of Bulgaria.17:00 > 17:45 Master class Ionică Minune (Balkan Accordion Project) (Hall M)Ionică Minune (real name: Ene Gheorghe) is seen as a true virtuoso by his fellow lăutari (Romanymusicians). He has played with grand masters such as Oscar Peterson and Florin Niculescu. Onlyduring his ten-year stay in France did he really break through internationally. For anyone with a basicknowledge of the accordion, this is an excellent chance to make music with the Romanian maestro.20

Complementary activitiesVino ZirkusWine bar with a selection of the finest wines of South-East Europe with performances by brass bands,dance, …Vrijdag 15.0422:00 Ilias Plastiras, wedding tradidanse (Greece)23:00 & 00:30 Shota (Kosovo)23:45 & 01:15 Ankara Folk Dance Musicians Association & Ankira Culture and Youth Club (Turkey)02:30 Orkestar Ekrem Mamutović (Serbia)Zaterdag 16.0419:30 Ilias Plastiras,wedding tradidance (Greece)22:30 Orkestar Braka Kadrievi (Macedonia)23:00 Bal klezmer Yiddish Tanz and Krupnik (Belgium)00:45 Ankara Folk Dance Musicians Association & Ankira Culture and Youth Club (Turkey)01:00 Shota (Kosovo)02:00 Orkestar Ekrem Mamutović vs. Orkestar Braka Kadrievi (Belgium/Macedonia/Serbia)Rembetiko KaféDiscover the soul of rembetiko in this old bar, with Greek live music by Nolas Antonios & GyrasNikolaos band and Ilias Plastiras, dance and above all an authentic atmosphere!CINEMA OFFThe Cinema Off programme is outside the official programme and is designed to highlight unknowndirectors who have made a documentary or short film on the subject of the Balkans or multiculturalism.- Bleri Lleshi, Bxl stad zonder eigenaar [Bxl city without owner] (2009), followed by adebate attended by Bleri Lleshi (Bleri Lleshi, 40 min, in NL/ FR subtitling)’Bxl stad zonder eigenaar’ is a documentary by the political scientist and documentary makerBleri Lleshi. He asks eight young adults of diverse origins what they consider characteristic oftheir identities and for living with others. They have links with their countries and regions oforigin, but feel at home in Belgium and Brussels.Bleri Llhesi is also the author of Identiteit en Interculturaliteit – Identiteitsconstructie bijjongeren in Brussel (VUBPress, 2010).- Gazmend Zhugolli, European Heroes (15’, subtitles in Dutch and English)Three people of different nationalities, whose nations are living in a state of civil war, see eachother as enemies while living as neighbours in a Brussels’ block of flats. Emotions flare upduring a game of football.- Ingrid Oyev aar, Goran Bregović , A Short DocumentaryIngrid Oyevaar is an independent Dutch documentary maker who followed Goran Bregović onhis European tour of Margot, Memoires of an Unhappy Queen. She sketches a picture ofGoran Bregović as a musical, universal storyteller. With rehearsals and performances inRome and Budapest (February 2011) and a conversation about the day war broke out inSarajevo. According to Bregović , sometimes you just have to leave the place where you are.In this case ‘flight is the only salvation’.21

- Jacques Borzykowski, Le Monde en SceneFilmmaker Jacques Borzykowski followed the activities backstage in « Le Monde en Scene »over the course of six months. Musical encounters of artists, dancers, musicians from allcorners of the world crossing their paths in Brussels. A beautiful portrait of the new culturaldiversity that emerges out of these encounters. Le Monde en Scène- Entre deux Terres - a short by 7 young Albanians from Huy, supervised by Myriam Lambotte,video maker.7 young people from the second generation of Albanians in Huy tell their stories and sharetheir view on life inside and outside the community that is close to their hearts. The result is afictional film recorded in real situations such as the local hospital, the health centre, caféL’expression… with actors and extras selected from their group of friends and via Facebook.Expo DjangoAs the child of gypsies, born in Belgium, Django Reinhardt embodied the nomadic existence of theManouche, Roma, and gypsies in general. His musical talent and typical manouche jazz inspiredmusicians including Toots Thielemans, René Thomas, Philip Catherine, Fapy Laferton, Koen DeCauter and many others.This Django exhibition shows both his musical career and the nomadic life of peoples from Central,Eastern and Southern Europe: their ways of life, culture, faith and the social-economic difficulties theyare faced with in our sedentary society. Paintings by Lucien Maringer (1903-1981) and photos fromthe collection of Christian Berthold, Nicolas Clément and Georges Vercheval, give a tender andtouching picture of the life of the travellers. A short film about the life of Django Reinhardt illustratesonce more how his music was influenced by the various cultures he came into contact with through thegypsy life.Balkan BazaarHamams, mosques, caravanserais, and rows of market stalls: the old bazaars remain the living heartof many towns in the Balkans. In Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Skopje and Bitola (Macedonia), aswell as in Komotini (Greece), they have survived the test of time, wars and the waves of“modernisaton” that have so often destroyed old city centres. The Balkan Bazaar, a meeting place atthe very heart of the festival, evokes all the bustle and atmosphere of these districts. The decor, themarket stalls with their many prizes to be won, the varied musical and theatrical events, as well as thefortune teller and host of colourful characters will all be paying homage to the Balkan carsija !Participating organisations:Le Courrier des Balkans: ‘Le Courrier des Balkans’ publishes and disseminates, via the Internet,articles and analyses from the democratic press in the Balkans. Le Courrier has a number of books tobe won (Bazaar des Balkans, the Firma sketchbook, etc. ) while you can also discover the manypublications produced by its experts. www.balkans.courriers.infoService Volontaire International: The SVI, a youth association, organises more than 2,500 voluntaryprojects in 70 countries and is open to all. In addition to discovering their many projects you could alsowin a very special trip to one of its many site camps in the Balkans. An original and useful way todiscover the region. www.servicevolontaire.org22

Adria Airways: Adria Airways, a Slovenian airline and partner of Balkan Trafik since its beginnings,links Brussels with many cities in South-East Europe. Go and visit them and win 2 x 1 tickets fromBrussels to Ljubljana. www.adria-airways.comNational Tourism Organisation of Serbia, Times To Trav el and Panacom (Serbia): Thesepromote Serbia as a tourist destination for city trips or longer holidays, with an emphasis on thecultural heritage and active and sports holidays. www.serbia.travel / www.metropoliten.com/ www.timetotravel.nl / www.panacomp.netMladi BiH and Gratiartis (Bosnia): Gratiartis proposes cultural events for the people of Bosnia,Belgium and elsewhere… Madi Bih is its Dutch counterpart. Gratiartis and Mlad BIH are offering asprizes books by Bosnian authors they have published in French as well as seats for a concert to beorganised shortly by Gratiartis. www.gratiartis.be / www.mladi-bih.nlA visit to the Balkan Bazaar will also be the occasion for some surprising encounters... At the"Fortune Teller" come and meet “Mrs Szilágyi Jánosné & Szabó Józsefné Horváth”, two genuineHungarian fortune tellers and find out what the future holds for you. And good things come in smallpackages! The puppets in the Mikropódium puppet theatre are tiny and perform on a minusculestage. In order to enjoy them you have to come up close.The Caravan Museum of Tania Magy (NGO Art’Rom de Voyage) is present at Balkan Trafik for thethird time. The trio Trotsky Tulski provides musical tunes outside.23

Practical informationBalkan Trafikwww.balkantrafik.comwww.bozar.be/balkantrafikDatesThursday 14 > Sunday 17.04.2011Saturday, April 2 2011 Fnac is organizing 2 showcases with Balkan Trafik artists.- Fnac Brussel City2: 11h45 Trotsky Tulski, 14h Krupnik & Yiddish Tanz- Fnac Brussel Toison d’Or: 15h Trotsky Tulski, 17h Krupnik & Yiddish TanzSaturday, April 9 2011 Zongora (13h45) and Krupnik & Yiddish Tanz (12h30) will be playing at themediathèque of ULB.AddressCentre for Fine ArtsRue Ravensteinstraat 231000 BrusselsTicketsThursday 14.04: Film Cirkus Columbia €10 (reductions available), Balkan Boat €16 (incl. 2 drinks)Friday 15.04: €30/20 (day pass with/without Margot by Goran Bregović), €10 after 1pmSaturday 16.04: €18 (dat pass), €10 after 1pmSunday 17.04: €5/film, free with festival bracelet of Friday or Saturday after reservation viabozar.cinema01@bozar.be (1 entry per film for a maximum of 3 films)Please note that entry is limited for the Duman concert on Friday 15.04!Reductions– 12y: €5– 26y: 25% reduction+ 65y: 15% reductionBOZAR info & tickets+32 (0)2 507 82 00- info@bozar.be - www.bozar.be – www.bozarblog.beReservations for the Balkan Boat via www.balkantrafik.comMore information and interview requestsPress service Centre for Fine Arts (national press):Annelien Mallems – annelien.mallems@bozar.be – +32 (0)2 507 84 48Press service 1001 Valises (communities and international press):Iris Maas – iris.maas@gmail.com – +32 (0)476 349 314Press images can be downloaded via www.bozar.be/activity.php?id=10808&pressguest=124