Oscar winner Neil Jordan, award-winning actors Stephen Rea and Ruth Negga, along with numerous directors, comedians, musicians, writers and visual artists from Ireland, will present their work to audiences at the 14th Belgrade Irish Festival (BIF), the largest event dedicated to contemporary Irish culture in the region, from 12 to 21 March.
This year BIF brings together two eras of Irish culture: the contemporary scene, represented by leading Irish figures from film and theatre, and the legacy shaped half a century ago by Samuel Beckett, one of the most influential authors of 20th-century Irish and European literature.
Beckett’s legacy runs through every segment of this year’s festival programme. Audiences will have the opportunity to see an exclusive theatre piece inspired by Beckett’s poetry at Atelje 212, the theatre that introduced Belgrade audiences to Beckett 70 years ago. The programme also includes 19 films based on his works and two exhibitions by Serbian and Irish artists inspired by the philosophy of this great creator.
At Atelje 212, on 15 and 16 March, actors Stephen Rea and Ruth Negga will perform a theatrical piece based on Beckett’s poetry, directed by one of Ireland’s most prolific directors, Alan Gilsenan. Stephen Rea is renowned for his interpretations of Beckett’s works and is one of the few actors today who worked directly with the great writer. His stage partner in this performance, Ruth Negga, an actress of Irish-Ethiopian heritage, was nominated for an Academy Award and won an Emmy Award in 2017.
Irish Film Week opens with the film Christy, winner of the Grand Prix for Best Film in the Generation 14plus programme, a thematic section focused on the lives and experiences of young people at the Berlinale festival, as well as the award for Best Irish Film at last year’s Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland’s most influential film festival.
The event opening BIF on 12 March is also dedicated to the work of Samuel Beckett: a group exhibition of Serbian and regional artists entitled Siege in the Room, to be staged at the Balkan Cinema. Among the exhibiting artists is Aleksandar Denić, one of the most prominent European set designers today.
The festival will also feature what is billed as the best club night of the year at Silosi, with BIF guest Donal Dineen, a popular Irish music curator and DJ, a legend of the music scene and a radio pioneer since the 1990s, known for sets that blend afrobeat, Latin, folk and contemporary electronic music into an irresistible dance experience.
Comedians Martin Beanz Ward and the “favourite Irish billionaire” Reggie are also coming to Belgrade. Street artist James Earley will create a mural covering 180 square metres at the Port of Belgrade during the festival.
Tickets for all BIF events that are not free of charge are available at Ticket.rs.
(Euronews, 18.02.2026)