INTERNATIONAL JURY 2025
Lenka Dzadíková (Slovakia) studied Theatre Theory and Criticism at the Academy of Performing Arts (VŠMU) in Bratislava, where she also completed her doctoral studies. She focuses on theatre reviews, particularly in the field of puppet theatre and theatre for children and youth. She participates in academic conferences and publishes her studies in professional anthologies. Lenka serves as a jury member at amateur theatre festivals and is the dramaturge of the children’s programme at the Dotyky a spojenia festival in Martin. She is an editor of the magazine mloki.sk and also works at the Theatre Institute Bratislava.
Ema Šlechtová (Czech Republic) studied at the Department of Theatre Theory and Criticism at DAMU in Prague. She has worked as an editor for the magazine Loutkář, co-organizes the puppet theatre showcase Přelet nad loutkářským hnízdem, and has served as editor-in-chief for several festival newsletters (including the 14th edition of Spectaculo Interesse). Ema regularly sits on juries at amateur puppet theatre festivals and is also a moderator of theatre discussions (such as Kulatý stůl at the Loutex festival). She is a writer and publicist specializing in puppet theatre. Currently, she collaborates with a stop-motion puppet animation studio.
Saša Latinović (Serbia) graduated in Acting from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad under the mentorship of Professor Bora Drašković. In 2023, he earned his PhD at the same institution. He is a long-time ensemble member of Pozorište mladih Novi Sad and serves as a professor at the Academy of Arts, University of Novi Sad, where he teaches puppet acting and stage speech. Saša has performed in dozens of productions at Pozorište mladih, the National Theatre Subotica, the National Theatre “Toša Jovanović” in Zrenjanin, Opera & Theatre Madlenianum, and the Serbian National Theatre.
Tin Grabnar (Slovenia) is a theatre director whose work lies at the intersection of theatre and performative art, with a strong focus on experimental contemporary puppet theatre. His productions Somewhere Else and Still Life, created in collaboration with the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre, have won numerous national and international awards. Tin’s artistic work is known for its strong visual language and thought-provoking content, addressing fundamental emotional, ethical, and philosophical questions. Sustainability of life is his central theme, both in terms of content and production practice.
Agnieszka Vamala Paszek (Poland) is an actress, performer, and a fourth-year student of Puppet Acting at the Academy of Theatre Arts in Wrocław. She comes from Chudów in Upper Silesia, where she also learned the local dialect. Agnieszka participated in an Erasmus+ exchange in Madrid at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts of RESAD (Real Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático). She made her stage debut at the Wrocław Contemporary Theatre in a performative reading of Bare Ass, directed by Piotr Żukowski. Her favorite artistic medium is movement, which she hopes to focus on professionally after graduation.