When the earth shakes, and when everyone tells us to be silent, we choose to write, create, and erase the boundaries between art and real life. Under pressure, but — together. Because, when the pressure overwhelms us, we resist with solidarity and engaged words. No pressure, under pressure!
In front of the Museum of Yugoslavia, Mihaila Mike Jankovića 6, Belgrade
KROKODIL (an acronym that stands for: Literary Regional Gathering that Alleviates Boredom and Lethargy) is a literary festival that presents local, regional, and international literature in its full scope and in unique and original ways —without generational, poetic, gender or any other exclusivity. With its modern and dynamic approach to presenting authors, featuring readings with the use of contemporary video and audio media, musical-stage performances, and a broad selection including poetry, prose, and dramatic texts, KROKODIL festival has become one of the most attended literary events in the region since its inception in 2009. To date, sixteen summer festivals have been held as well as over twenty KROKODIL Festival guest appearances in nine European countries, with the participation of nearly five hundred authors from the country, region, and Europe.
This year, KROKODIL Festival is back for its 17th edition. Just like last year, when the concept of the festival was significantly changed, audience can expect three days full of diverse program: morning and afternoon events in the Debate, Children, Workshop, and Film zones, as well as an evening literary and musical show on the main stage.
Translators Café
Friday, June 27, 15:30 – 17:00
Increasingly, translators play a crucial role in bringing new and emerging authors to the attention of publishers, acting as literary scouts and agents.
During KROKODIL Festival, translators from Serbia who are participating in the CELA project will meet face to face with some of the most prominent Serbian publishers and present the work of authors whose excerpts they have translated within the project.
CELA: What’s On? – Presenting New European Literary Voices
Saturday, June 28, 14:00 – 16:00
This event is dedicated to presenting new literary voices, both local and international, and exploring the connections and reciprocity between writers and their translators, with the aim of recognizing translators as equal literary creators alongside writers, and acknowledging their creative role.
This intention has also inspired a new reflection on literary performances when they occur outside the context of the language in which a particular author writes. Come see how creative communication between those who write and those who translate their works can result in exciting stage performances that intertwine different languages, sound, text, and movement, and get to know the future European literary stars.
Participants: authors Hanan Faour (NL), Filip Grujić (RS), Anna Luňáková (CZ), Ljiljana D. Ćuk (RS), Barbara Woźniak (PL), and Nikola Lekić (RS); and translators Milica Kozić (Polish), Jana Živkić (Dutch), and Jelena Đorđević (Czech).
More info and full program:https://www.krokodil.rs/eng/2025/06/xvii-krokodil-festival-2025-under-pressure/
