Children’s and expert jury decided on awards on the 59th International Puppet Theatre Festival PIF on Thursday, July 17th, 2026.
CHILDREN’S JURY comprising Pamela Jajaš, Pave Memed and Iskra Uršić, selected LIFE by the JAVIER ARANDA COMPANY, SPAIN, as the best performance.
EXPERT JURY comprising Tamara Kučinović, Mario Drmać and Mihail Baykov, made the following decisions:
1. The award for ensemble acting and puppet animation in “Sweet Words” goes to Petra Šarac, Tilen Kožamelj and David Petrović, Rijeka City Puppet Theatre, Croatia.
2. The award for ensemble acting and puppet animation in “Peter’s Last Day” goes to Coline Agard, Luce Causin, Léa Guillec, Hanna Malhas, Marion Piro and Églantine Remblier, Deraïdenz, Avignon, France.
3. The award for puppet animation in “A Mouse Called Julian” goes to Gašper Malnar, Ljubljana Puppet Theatre, Slovenia.
4. The award for lighting design in “The Dragon” goes to Ratko Jerković, Youth Theatre, Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia.
5. The award for puppet technology in “Loops and Hoops” goes to Dominik Migač, Prague, Czech Republic.
6. The award for the visual identity of “Peter’s Last Day” goes to Baptiste Zsilina, Léa Guillec, Nicolas Pautrat, Églantine Remblier and Marion Piro, Deraïdenz, Avignon, France.
7. The award for best direction of “Loops and Hoops” goes to Dominik Migač, Marta Migač and Jan Pichler, Czech Republic.
The “TIBOR SEKELJ” AWARD for the production with the most humane message is awarded to “Peter’s Last Day”, Deraïdenz, Avignon, France.
“MILAN ČEČUK” GRAND PRIX for the best overall production is awarded to Dominik Migač, Marta Migač And Jan Pichler for “Loops and Hoops”, Prague, Czech Republic.
The Grand Prix trophy was created by sculptor Iva Mihanović. Zagreb, 17 September 2026.