AGP Executive Report

Children’s Cinema: Belgrade’s 22nd Kids Fest opened with Glavonja, a family adventure about friendship, diversity and autism. The Croatian-Slovak film, made with Serbian participation, reaches Serbian cinemas on October 22. Independent Culture: The Blacklist festival is bringing artists, screenings and performances to more than 25 Serbian cities through October 21, as publishers and cultural workers push back against exclusions and pressure. Books: Academic Book says it will miss this year’s Belgrade Book Fair after its projects were denied public funding, joining other independent publishers staging alternative events. Classical Music: The 58th Bemus festival opened in Belgrade on October 17 with Russian opera stars and the RTS Symphony Orchestra; concerts run through October 30. Heritage: Greece has ratified an agreement with Serbia to share information, fight illicit trafficking of cultural goods and support their return.

Independent Arts: The “Black List” festival is bringing artists and audiences together in more than 25 Serbian cities, turning cultural blacklists and pressure on artists into performances, film screenings and public events. Belgrade Music: The 58th Bemus festival opened on October 17 with Russian opera stars and the RTS Symphony Orchestra and Choir; performances by international orchestras and leading soloists continue through October 30. Book Fair: Academic Book and other publishers say they will skip this year’s Belgrade Book Fair, citing funding and cultural-policy concerns, while organizing independent events and online sales. Cultural Heritage: Greece’s parliament has ratified an agreement with Serbia to share information, combat illicit trade in cultural goods and help return stolen heritage. Classical Music: Zubin Mehta is set to reunite with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, renewing a long-standing musical connection.

Belgrade Music: The 58th Bemus festival opens October 17 with a gala concert featuring Russian opera stars, the RTS Symphony Orchestra and Choir. The program runs through October 30, with performers and ensembles from across Europe, alongside Serbian music. Book Fair: Academic Book says it will miss this year’s Belgrade Book Fair after its projects were rejected for public funding. The publisher is holding an online fair and literary events instead. Blacklist Festival: The film program continues in Belgrade with free screenings of Serbian films through October 19, as the wider festival runs in more than 25 cities until October 21. Cultural Heritage: Greece’s parliament has ratified an agreement with Serbia to share expertise and information, combat trafficking in cultural goods and help return looted items. Young Innovators: A Belgrade competition brought together student and research teams from Serbia, China, Britain and Germany. Top awards went to a low-cost health-monitoring sensor developed with the University of Niš and a wastewater cooling system proposed by University of Novi Sad researchers.

Books & Publishing: Twenty independent Serbian publishers are holding the ne:Sajam festival in Belgrade and Novi Sad through Oct. 18, after declining to take part in the official Book Fair over its terms. Cultural Heritage: Students are seeking documents on the General Staff complex after reports that Aleksandar Vučić pushed officials to remove the bomb-damaged landmark’s protected status for a Trump-linked hotel project; he has not been charged and denies wrongdoing. Film & Music: Belgrade’s 2026 FEST named The Quiet Beekeeper, Red Hangar and Hold Onto Me among its winners, while Zubin Mehta is set to reunite with the Belgrade Philharmonic. Independent artists are also taking the stage at Novi Sad’s Festival of the Serbian Underground and blacklisted-artists events across 25 Serbian cities.

Cultural Heritage: The Guardian reports that Aleksandar Vučić pressured heritage officials to remove protection from Belgrade’s former Yugoslav army headquarters for a planned Trump-branded complex. Culture Minister Nikola Selaković and other officials face charges over alleged abuse of office; the project was later shelved. Books: Twenty independent publishers are holding the ne:Sajam festival in Belgrade and Novi Sad from October 16 to 18, after again boycotting the official Book Fair over its terms. Belgrade’s Bloom Publishing is also presenting a new series of contemporary Serbian prose. Theatre: Belgrade’s Blacklist festival opened with a documentary performance by Šabac Theatre actors, whose work was removed from the company’s repertoire. The festival spotlights artists and cultural workers sidelined from institutions. Film: FilmFestival Cottbus has announced 147 films from 43 countries for its November edition, including works by Serbian and regional filmmakers and a new competition for young directors. Music: EXIT’s Starlight Festival drew an international crowd to Egypt’s Giza Pyramids, closing the Serbian festival’s overseas tour. Classical Music: Zubin Mehta is set to return to Belgrade to conduct the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra.

Heritage Under Pressure: The Guardian reports that Aleksandar Vučić personally urged officials to strip Belgrade’s former General Staff building of protected status for a proposed Trump-branded hotel and tower. The project is now tied to a criminal case over alleged abuse of office. Independent Culture: Novi Sad’s Festival of the Serbian Underground returns to SKCNS Fabrika on October 16–17, with live music, a skate-culture exhibition and a DIY bazaar. Music & Film: Zubin Mehta is set to reunite with the Belgrade Philharmonic, while the Quiet Beekeeper, Red Hangar and Hold Onto Me won at this year’s FEST. Czech and Slovak Film Days also bring regional cinema to Belgrade. Serbian Culture Abroad: EXIT’s Starlight Festival drew an international crowd to Egypt’s Giza pyramids on October 9–10, closing the festival’s international tour. Academic Loss: Milan Podunavac, former dean of Belgrade’s Faculty of Political Sciences and a prominent scholar of political culture, has died aged 80.

Press Freedom: Hundreds rallied outside Nova.rs in Belgrade on Wednesday, backing journalists who rejected an ultimatum to work under new editorial leadership. Staff say they will continue reporting independently, including on election night. Media and Politics: Serbia’s electronic media regulator ended proceedings against RTS, RTV and four private broadcasters over campaign footage featuring children, finding no law violations. Separately, Arena Sport reportedly sought the removal of a “Students are winning” banner shown during a basketball broadcast. Film: The Quiet Beekeeper, Red Hangar and Hold Onto Me took top honors at the 2026 FEST in Belgrade. The festival’s 53rd edition also closed under the banner “Children of Kozare.” Music: Zubin Mehta is returning to Belgrade to reunite with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra. Arts: A festival of blacklisted artists is bringing events to 25 cities across Serbia.

Belgrade Film: Sweden’s The Quiet Beekeeper, Chile’s Red Hangar and Hold Onto Me won top awards at FEST, which returned after a two-year break and screened more than 100 films. Live Music: EXIT’s international tour ended with a sold-out electronic music festival beside Egypt’s pyramids, keeping the Serbian festival brand on the world stage after its departure from Novi Sad. Books and Culture: Several Serbian publishers say new titles will be missing from the Book Fair, raising questions about what readers will find at the event. Orthodox Tradition: October 14 marks the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, a much-loved feast in Slavic Orthodox communities. Classical Music: Zubin Mehta is set to return to Belgrade to reunite with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra.

FEST: Belgrade’s returning film festival handed its top European prize to Sweden’s The Quiet Beekeeper and its international award to Chile’s Red Hangar. More than 100 films screened before the 53rd edition closed on October 11. Music: Zubin Mehta is returning to reunite with the Belgrade Philharmonic, bringing the celebrated conductor back to a long-standing cultural partnership. EXIT Abroad: The Serbian festival brand ended its international tour with a sold-out Starlight event beside Egypt’s pyramids, as it continues to build a life beyond Novi Sad. Education and Community: Nineteen young Serbs from Croatia are studying at Serbian universities through a decade-old scholarship programme; caretaker Prime Minister Đuro Macut met the students in Belgrade. Diaspora: Patriarch Porfirije made his first pastoral visit to Australia as head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, meeting a community of nearly 95,000 Serbian Orthodox Christians.

Live Music: EXIT has closed its international tour with a sold-out Starlight Festival beside Egypt’s pyramids, drawing fans from 114 countries. The festival’s team took the event abroad after EXIT lost government funding in Serbia. Belgrade Philharmonic: Conductor Zubin Mehta is set to reunite with the orchestra, with organizers describing his commitment to music as a bridge between cultures. Film: The 53rd FEST ended on October 11 after screening 115 films from 50 countries. Organizers praised the programme, while reports pointed to sparse attendance, including at a major premiere. Books & Education: Several Serbian publishers say new titles will be absent from the Book Fair, while employees of Niš’s Faculty of Philosophy protested in Belgrade over unpaid salaries and plans to split departments from the faculty.

Arts & Education: Hundreds of academics protested in Belgrade for Niš Philosophy Faculty staff unpaid for more than 80 days, opposing the transfer of departments to a new Faculty of Serbian Studies. Film: Belgrade’s 53rd FEST closed on Oct. 11 after screening 115 films from 50 countries; Lordan Zafranović won the Milutin Čolić award for Children of Kozara. Classical Music: I Virtuosi Italiani bring Vivaldi and other Italian works to Kolarac on Nov. 28. Books & Access: Creative Center, Laguna and LOM say some new titles will be absent from the Book Fair, while a festival for blacklisted artists is set to span 25 Serbian cities. Culture Funding: A report questions state spending on culture projects, including work linked to Ristovski and Jung. Heritage & Travel: A travel feature on Djerba, reached by direct seasonal flight from Belgrade, explores the island’s Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Amazigh heritage.

Film: Belgrade’s 53rd FEST closed on October 11 after screening 115 films from 50 countries. Lordan Zafranović won the Milutin Čolić award for The Golden Ratio ’42: The Children of Kozara; audience figures are still pending. Books: Creative Center is running a book sale through October 31, joining publishers whose titles will be absent from the upcoming Book Fair. Dance: Choreographer Aleksandar Ilić has received the Marina Olenjina award for his contribution to ballet; the prize will be presented in Belgrade on October 13. Arts and culture: A festival celebrating blacklisted artists is set to tour 25 Serbian cities, as criticism grows over state spending on cultural projects. Serbian cinema abroad: Yugo Goes to America, directed by Filip Grujić and Aleksa Borković, is among the films selected for Cairo International Film Festival’s competition.

Arts & Artists: Choreographer Aleksandar Ilić has won the Marina Olenjina award, which he says belongs to the teams behind his work. He also argues young people need real prospects, not just talk. Books: Publishers Creative Center, LOM and Laguna are offering new titles and online discounts after opting out of this year’s Belgrade Book Fair. Creative Center’s releases include picture books for young readers. Serbian Film Abroad: “Yugo Goes to America,” directed by Filip Grujić and Aleksa Borković, is among 12 films in the Cairo International Film Festival’s competition, running November 11–20. Culture Under Pressure: The Blacklist festival will bring free performances, films, concerts and talks to more than 25 Serbian cities from October 14–21. Organizers say participating artists have faced lost work, venues and funding after criticizing the government. Belgrade Institutions: City officials have again reshuffled acting directors at cultural venues, including the Cultural Center of Belgrade, which has had interim leadership since 2010.

Civic Space: PUF says two activists were detained in Zrenjanin while trying to question officials at a Vučić rally; it also alleges police restricted movement and pushed attendees and journalists. Belgrade Culture: The city has reassigned several cultural-institution leaders, continuing a long-running system of appointing acting directors without open competitions. Book Fair: Publishers LOM and Laguna say they will stay away this year over unfavorable terms. Their news comes as Serbian readers celebrate Anne Carson’s Literature Nobel, while some of her translated books are hard to find. Independent Arts: The free Blacklist festival begins October 14, bringing theatre, film, poetry, music and discussion to more than 25 Serbian cities. Organizers say it supports artists facing pressure and lost funding. Serbian Film: Filip Grujić and Aleksa Borković’s Yugo Goes to America is among 12 titles announced for Cairo International Film Festival’s international competition. Cultural Exchange: Belgrade’s Confucius Institute marked 20 years of Chinese-language teaching and cultural ties, with 16 teaching sites across three Serbian cities.

Cultural Exchange: Western Outlands Research Institute chair Angel Dzhonev says Serbia denied him entry on national-security grounds as he travelled to a Bosilegrad cultural centre anniversary event. Books: Major publishers are staying away from this year’s Belgrade Book Fair over its terms. LOM is among them, promoting new Serbian translations and online discounts; Anne Carson’s Nobel win has also renewed attention to her books available in Serbian. Arts and Dissent: The free Blacklist festival will bring theatre, film, music and poetry to more than 25 Serbian cities from October 14 to 21, supporting artists who say they have faced pressure and lost funding or work. Belgrade’s Cultural Institutions: The city has reshuffled acting directors at several institutions, continuing a pattern of appointments made without open competitions. Cultural Ties: Belgrade’s Confucius Institute marked 20 years of Serbian-Chinese exchange, with 16 teaching sites across three Serbian cities.

Independent Arts: The Blacklist festival will bring free theatre, film, poetry, music and forums to more than 25 Serbian cities from October 14 to 21. Organised by artists who say they have lost work and funding after criticising the government, it aims to support creative freedom. Literature: Canadian writer Anne Carson won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature; several of her books have Serbian translations. As major publishers skip the Belgrade Book Fair over its conditions, Laguna is taking new releases to its bookstores around the country. Cultural Funding: A new analysis says Serbia’s Culture Ministry backed 953 projects with 470 million dinars this year, including 45 projects it describes as suspicious; results from some competitions are still unpublished. Regional Theatre: Serbia will be represented at the Balkan Theatre Festival in Bulgaria, November 1–7, with seven productions from five countries exploring freedom, memory and social pressure. Cultural Exchange: Belgrade’s Confucius Institute marked 20 years of Chinese-language teaching and cultural exchange. It now runs 16 teaching sites in three Serbian cities.