The 35th Marulić Days Festival of Croatian Drama concluded on Wednesday, April 30, at the Croatian National Theatre in Split. Festival awards were presented at the closing ceremony, which began at 8 p.m. After Mislav Vukušić, envoy of the Split-Dalmatia County prefect, officially closed the festival, the final out-of-competition play The End of the World in Three Acts was performed—a co-production by Zagreb Youth Theatre, Borštnik Festival – SNG Maribor, and Belgrade Drama Theatre.
The 35th Marulić Days Festival of Croatian Drama concluded on April 30 at the Croatian National Theatre in Split, featuring 12 productions instead of the planned 13, due to one cancellation. Over the course of nine days, the festival hosted more than 60 events. At the closing ceremony, Festival Director and HNK Split Intendant Vicko Bilandžić presented the Marul Awards to the winners.
Award Highlights:
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Best Overall Production: Death in Dubrovnik by Prazan prostor from Podgorica, Montenegro – praised for its raw portrayal of the Dubrovnik siege and artistic commitment to truth and reconciliation.
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Audience Award & Highest Rated Play (4.85): Not a Beast of a Dog by Split City Puppet Theatre.
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Best Contemporary Playwright: Tomislav Zajec for Fading (HNK Zagreb).
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Best Direction: Goran Golovko for Not a Beast of a Dog.
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Best Actress: Anita Matić Delić for Doghouse (Arterarij), portraying the trauma of wartime sexual violence.
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Best Actor: Matija Čigir for Jimmy Ćorak, a monodrama on the father-son connection.
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Best Adaptation: Marina Vujčić for Not a Beast of a Dog, adapted from Smoje’s Dog Stories.
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Best Dramaturgy: Anja Pletikosa for Death in Dubrovnik.
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Artistic Achievement: Music team of The Falcon Didn’t Love Him (HNK Osijek) for live, evocative performances.
Special Jury Prize (Slobodna Dalmacija Readers’ Award): Nina Violić for her role as Clytemnestra in Waiting for Orestes – celebrated for a powerful and vulnerable portrayal.