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Stories from Slovenia

Theatre and film

Slovenia offers a rich selection of theatre and film shows.

Enter a different world of film

If you love films, then Slovenia is the perfect destination for you. Numerous themed film festivals attract visitors with their rich and high-quality content. Learn about some of the most renowned festivals which are a must when visiting Slovenia.

LIFFe

Have you grown tired of predictable Hollywood productions? Visit the Ljubljana Film Festival LIFFe, where you can watch films from established film-makers as well as those by newcomers who are beginning their career path. You will also learn about the trends in various markets and discover different kinds of extravagance. Every year, LIFFe also prepares a retrospective series of films by an exceptional film-maker.

More on: LIFFe (open in a new window)

Kinodvor Cinema

Audiences with a more sophisticated taste can enjoy the programme of the Kinodvor Cinema, where you can watch selected contemporary art films and more complex cinematic offerings. The programme also includes something for children, youth, and the elderly. In summer, the cinema organises outdoor film screenings: Films under the Stars at Ljubljana Castle, where high-profile films of the season and premieres are shown, and Summer Cinema at Congress Square, where classics are screened.

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mestni_kino_ptuj
Photo: Albin Bezjak

Did you know?

The Ptuj Municipal Cinema is the oldest operating movie theatre in Slovenia. The first film screening was held there on 3 March 1897, just over a year after the Lumière brothers presented their new invention, the cinematograph, to a Parisian audience.

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Indulge in Slovenian creativity of performing arts

Visit an unusual theatre. A theatre that entertains you in the street. Or a theatre where you can enjoy a broader array of contemporary performing arts. See Slovenian contemporary theatrical production.

Ana Desetnica

At this international street theatre festival, you can see fire eaters, jugglers, puppeteers, acrobats, dancers, musicians and other performers. Ana Desetnica also has a younger sister, Ana Mraz, whom you can meet in Ljubljana in December as a part of the holiday celebrations.

More on: Ana Desetnica (open in a new window)

Theatres

Slovenian theatres carry out their programmes in Slovenian, unless they are hosting foreign theatre groups. Most guest performances from abroad are organised at Cankarjev Dom. You might be tempted to hear Shakespeare's Hamlet or Homer's Iliad in Slovenian. To do so, it is best to visit one of the two central theatre institutions in Slovenia: Slovenian National Theatre – Drama Ljubljana and Slovenian National Theatre – Maribor Drama. Mladinsko Theatre (The Slovenian Youth Theatre) is for those who love experiencing innovation and audaciousness in the theatre. The Glej Theatre is also known for experimentation. The oldest active theatre in Slovenia is the Ptuj Town Theatre, which is mentioned in documents dating back to the middle of the 18th century, while the Idrija Film Theatre is also one of the oldest preserved theatre buildings in Slovenia. Theatres with a good programme of productions can also be found in Celje and Nova Gorica, where both contemporary as well as classic plays are performed, and Slovenians also have their own theatre in Italy, in Trieste.

Children love going to the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre, the Maribor Puppet Theatre and to the Mini Theatre.

The Škofja Loka Passion Play

Re-live the past and go see the unique Škofja Loka Passion Play. This is 300 years old and hence considered the oldest preserved European director's book. The Škofja Loka Passion Play is staged as a procession in the original setting, in the medieval town centre, which also serves as the perfect backdrop. More than 600 volunteers and approximately 80 horsemen participate in the Passion Play, wearing unique costumes and acting in original renditions of the play.

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