Poetic "Literary Sparks" are becoming a tradition in Gostivar

On the occasion of May 24, the Day of the All-Slavic educators, Saints Cyril and Methodius, the International Poetry Festival "Literary Sparks" has been organized in Gostivar for nine years, and "Cultural Press" attended the festival for the first time.

The ninth festival edition was held on May 21, at the Cultural Center "ASNOM" in Gostivar, organized by the Association "Millennium". Nine finalists of this year's edition were selected at the festival, selected from 161 registered participants in the competition. Poets from Serbia, Bulgaria and Slovenia also participated in the video address.

Project coordinator of all nine editions of the MPF "Literary Sparks" is Slagjana Brezovska from the Association "Millennium", who revealed the basic motives, challenges and goals in the organization of the poetry festival.

- The association "Millennium" this year celebrates 20 years of its existence and for the second time is the holder of this project. The motive is, above all, raising interest in attending cultural events in Gostivar, but also increasing the cultural offer for lovers of written word and poetry at the state level, developing and promoting cooperation and creative energy between poets from Macedonia and other Balkan countries, promoting domestic poetic authors outside the borders of Macedonia, as well as Balkan poets in our country. "Literary Sparks" successfully overcame several difficult realizations that were realized modestly, when there was no financial support from the Ministry of Culture, where private companies supporting the culture and the work of Saints Cyril and Methodius met. This year, the ninth edition of the festival is financially supported by the Ministry of Culture with a modest amount, which is not appropriate for the realization of this type of festival, but we are still grateful for that. The manifestation of the whole Balkans presents the multiethnic character and multiculture of Gostivar, something that Gostivar, and I believe Macedonia, is especially proud and nurtures - said Brezovska.

The tradition of the festival is already known to the people of Gostivar as beauty and quality, as a value that must not fade, adds Brezovska, and reveals that every year more and more poets from Macedonia and the Balkan region appear in the competition, with support for the festival The Municipality of Gostivar also joined.

The awards of the 9th MPF "Literary Sparks" were decided by a poetry jury consisting of Natasha Sardzoska (president), Branko Cvetkoski and Rade Siljan. The Grand Prix award of the festival was given to Milcho Misoski from Struga.

- Honestly, I did not expect a reward. I was pleasantly surprised. For me personally, receiving the Grand Prix of the MPF "Literary Sparks 2022" is a special honor and incentive for further work - said Misoski.

The Grand Prix award was presented to Milcho Misoski by the President of the Jury Natasa Sardzoska

Although he is a primarius doctor by profession with a specialization in microbiology, his way of thinking is poetic, and in that style he reveals his motivations for writing poetry.

- Poetry is a need to share everything that постои with what exists and does not exist. Because she, poetry, is omnipotent, for its creation we need everything, all the ingredients of life. Namely, that is why I love her. I think that poetry in its essence equates the author and the reader, creating an amalgam of uniqueness, a kind of word mosaic that can not be repeated. It must be said that poetry is stronger than oblivion, its eternal memory makes it eternal in both space and time. Poetry is a human need. It has always been that, it existed before our steps. Its discovery is our self-knowledge in the world and for the world. Therefore, in order to write, first of all, one has to believe, to believe as a child, because only children know the secret of creation - Misoski reveals.

The project coordinator of the festival Slagjana Brezovska with the winner of the First Prize Katarina Trendova-Petrova from Kocani

Besides the Grand Prix, the first prize was awarded to Katarina Trendova-Petrova from Kocani, the second prize to Sofija Petkovska from Skopje, the third prize was shared by the poets Desanka Nikolova from Veles and Vedrana Petrova from Skopje, Natasha Nikolov was named the best foreign author from Serbia, and the most successful "young spark" was named fifteen-year-old Dimitrij Davitkov from Probistip.

The third prize was shared by the poets Desanka Nikolova from Veles and Vedrana Petrova from Skopje

The young poet Vedrana Petrova, a graduate of the Skopje high school "Josip Broz Tito", has already received awards at several domestic and international competitions, among others she has won the award "November 13" of the City of Skopje, and with the award "Literary Sparks" continued his successful poetic path.

- Poetry is my companion since I know about myself. It is a part of my everyday life, and I see the participation in competitions and festivals, not as an opportunity to receive awards, although I can not complain about it, but as an opportunity for self-promotion and an opportunity through my poetry to readers and listeners. I capture my thoughts on a particular phenomenon or theme that surrounds us. I see the awards as a confirmation of the value of my work, especially when they are received in a category where renowned poets from our country and abroad participated. Participation in international competitions I feel like an obligation through which I represent my homeland, mother tongue and culture. Therefore, I am especially fond of these international competitions in which I participate and in which my work has not gone unnoticed. I do not feel the recognition from the international competitions as my own, but as recognition of my homeland, my people and my school. I am very glad that with this year's award of "Literary Sparks" I will complete the four-year cycle of promotion of the high school "Josip Broz Tito", because as a graduate this is the last poetry award I bring - said Petrova.

Vedrana Petrova

Verses of 43 poets who participated in the competition in 2022, including the songs of the finalists, have been published in the collection of MPF "Literary Sparks", which will remain as a testimony to the ninth edition, but will also be a signpost to the jubilee edition in year.

- I hope next year we will be healthy, smiling and more inspired, we will realize the tenth edition of "Literary Sparks", with good thoughts and hopes for new beautiful poetic gatherings - concluded Slagjana Brezovska.

Dear reader,

Our access to web content is free, because we believe in equality in information, regardless of whether someone can pay or not. Therefore, in order to continue our work, we ask for the support of our community of readers by financially supporting the Free Press. Become a member of Sloboden Pechat to help the facilities that will enable us to deliver long-term and quality information and TOGETHER let's ensure a free and independent voice that will ALWAYS BE ON THE PEOPLE'S SIDE.

SUPPORT A FREE PRESS.
WITH AN INITIAL AMOUNT OF 60 DENARS

Video of the day