UNIMA was present at the 2023 World Festival of Puppet Theatres, where the association organised various events enabling members from all over the world to meet around common themes and a convivial drink. A great international meeting place which welcomed nearly 500 people over 4 days.
The delegation from Chuncheon, led by UNIMA South Korea President Pr. Choe, presented the festivities in preparation for the UNIMA 2025 Congress in Chuncheon, South Korea, as well as the festival and other associated activities. This presentation took place notably on the opening happy apéro orchestrated by the International Festivals Commission and its president Louise Lapointe, who welcomed almost 100 people to the UNIMA courtyard to discover some fine projects and toast the occasion. Take note that the UNIMA Congress in Chuncheon and festival will be held from May 23 to June 1, 2025.
UNIMA’s General Secretary Dimitri Jageneau presented his vision for the coming years at the “Friendship toast“, where many of UNIMA’s members, partners and funders honoured us with their presence.
The “book corner” manned all week by Frans Hakkemars welcomed many curious visitors, where the collection of books published by UNIMA was complemented by editions brought in by FIDENA and access to the fifty or so magazines listed worldwide for consultation. The meeting about puppetry magazines organised by the UNIMA “Puppetry Publication Online” sub-committee in the 75 Forest avenue space provided a non-exhaustive overview of some twenty reviews by their editors in front of a large audience.
Two of our meetings on training and cooperation topics, one on the African continent and the other on Europe, were highly inspiring and opened the debate towards future perspectives.
Last but not least, the “networking party” was a joyous affair, with a lottery humorously animated by Annette Dabs and Agneta Attling, and carefully prepared by Anastasiia Mashtakova and Mareike Gaubitz. Almost 500 tickets were sold, and the lucky winners of the first two prizes were:
– For the UNIMA Congress Pass 2025 in Chuncheon, South Korea: Roosa Halme, UNIMA Finland Councillor.
– For the Passport to the 2025 Chuncheon Puppet Festival in South Korea: Dann Wieman, UNIMA member from the Netherlands.
Congratulations to them!
We are all UNIMA!
// Photos credits: Clement Peretjatko, Albert Bagno, Habiba Jendoubi, Emmanuelle Castang //