As many as 45
\nproductions from 26 countries around the world are competing for the trophy of
\nthe 5th Grand Prix Nova International Radio Drama Festival, which
\nstarted in Bucharest on Monday. The event, organised by Radio Romania, under
\nthe patronage of HRH Crown Princess Margareta of Romania, focuses this year on
\ninnovation in radio production. Here is the interim director general of the
\nRomanian public radio corporation, Georgica Severin:<\/p>\n
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Our listeners
\nwill have an opportunity to listen to these pieces, whether on the eteatru
\nonline platform or on Radio Romania Culture, which will be airing them. As a
\npublic broadcaster, we must not overlook, even for one second, our mission of
\ninforming, educating and providing those elements of cultural normality that,
\nunfortunately, commercial radio stations have abandoned. This is why I am proud
\nto be part of this event and to see that with this Festival and with the
\nefforts made by niche stations like Radio Romania Culture and Radio Romania
\nMusic, as well as with the involvement of Radio Romania News and Current
\nAffairs, the public broadcaster is fulfilling its mission.<\/p>\n
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For the first
\ntime this year, the Festival will also include dialogue and performance
\nworkshops with the participants chaired by members of the jury. The jury is
\nmade up of five international personalities, including Bernard Clarke, an
\nauthor and producer for RTE lyric fm Ireland, and the director Ilinca Stihi,
\none of the founders of the Grand Prix Nova Festival, a member of many relevant
\ninternational juries and the author of award-winning radio productions. The
\npresident of this year’s jury is Dimitriy Nikolaev, a stage director with the
\nRadio Drama and Ars Acustica department of Radio Russia, the winner of a large
\nnumber of awards for radio drama shows and sound art.<\/p>\n
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The participants
\nwill compete for 6 trophies, in two sections: Radio Drama and Short Form. From
\nAustralia to Canada and the USA, the Festival maps Europe and reaches Iran,
\nIsrael and the Far East. The shows presented in Bucharest offer a unique
\noverview of different styles and cultural landmarks across the world. <\/p>\n
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