The International Radio Drama Festival in Bucharest
The first International Radio Drama Festival is under way in Bucharest.
Corina Cristea, 01.10.2013, 13:10
Some 60 productions from over 20 countries are participating in the first Grand Prix Nova International Radio Drama Festival in Bucharest this week. The festival is organized upon the 85th anniversary of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation. The president general director of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation, Ovidiu Miculescu believes that the event is a bridge between the past and the future:
Ovidiu Miculescu: “Grand Prix Nova is the first stone of an edifice devoted to the force of the word, of the word uttered with artistry, in a special form, in the drama performed in front of the microphone. We do all these things by virtue of our mission of public radio, looking to the future, to the coming listeners and we do it out of consideration and respect for the listeners who have been close to us during these 85 years“.
The event rallies the most revolutionary radio drama productions making best use of the means of expression provided by modern technical facilities. In many countries, radio is assimilated with radio drama and the values it has promoted as Niels Heyerdahl, president of the Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature, president of the jury pointed out. He said that through the creation of a new festival, Radio Romania showed that radio drama was still important in a world in which superficial entertainment increasingly gets the upper hand, getting the attention of the public. The competition is taking place under the patronage of her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Margareta of Romania. During the press conference held on the occasion, Prince Radu of Romania bestowed on Ovidiu Miculescu the High Patronage Diploma.
Prince Radu of Romania: “An international festival of such a scope covering three continents can be but an encouraging gesture for the present of our country.”
The Royal House and Radio Romania will further develop a special bond, dating back to 1928, when King Ferdinand signed the act establishing the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation, Ovidiu Miculescu underscored. He further said, “The Royal House has gone through important times in Romania’s history with the national radio by its side; after 85 years, this is a new beginning for us, I mean the organization of this international radio drama festival, in which not at all by chance the Royal House of Romania is also involved” .
