This year's Croatian drama festival unfolds amidst commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the death of Croatia's literary pioneer, Marko Marulić of Split. Over the course of ten festival days, more than 50 events are scheduled, organized by the HNK Split in collaboration with numerous partners, primarily cultural institutions in Split, including the Marko Marulić Literary Circle, the Academy of Fine Arts in Split, the Split City Museum, the Marko Marulić City Library, the Golden Gate Center for Lifelong Learning, and the Department of Croatian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split. The festival owes its realization to the financial and organizational support of the Ministry of Culture and Media, the City of Split, and the Split-Dalmatia County.
In the official festival competition running until April 29th, ten performances from Croatian theaters and one from Argentina will be staged. In addition to the Marul Awards, the festival's audience favorite will receive an award, and the jury of readers of the main media sponsor, the daily newspaper "Slobodna Dalmacija," will grant a special award for the most impressive acting achievement.
Following the rendition of the national anthem "Our Beautiful," performed by soprano Nela Šarić, a soloist from the HNK Split Opera, Minister Obuljen Koržinek will present the Marin Držić Awards for the best new Croatian dramatic work. The 2023 Awards Committee comprised Jasen Boko, a dramaturge; Martina Petranović, a theater scholar; and Doris Šarić-Kukuljica, a theater, television, and film actress.
The first prize was awarded to Espi Tomičić for the drama "Others' Warmth." The second prize is shared by Lucija Marković for the play "75 Years and Allah Has Not Spoken a Word" and Antonela Tošić for the play "Painful Children in Flowers," while the third prize is shared by Nina Horvat for the play "Mismatch," Matej Opolcer for the play "Tigresses," and Dorotea Šušak for the play "Moment Before - After (or Children Leave with Unclouded Eyes)." The minister will present the recipients with commemorative bronze sculptures by academic sculptor Damir Mataušić.