3 - 23 May 2005
  The former Bulgarian capital Veliko Tarnovo

“Balkan Folk 2005” Stara Planina Fest will be held within the scope of "Euro Folk 2005" Musical Feasts - The world is television, which is in different European cities and countries from 3 May till 22 September 2005.

Musical Feasts “Euro Folk 2005” comprise twelve musical festivals and a Science-practical conference “Traditional folk arts and the contemporary information technologies”. Main event of the Musical Feasts “Euro Folk 2005” is Festival No1 in Europe of the traditional folk arts – Stara Planina Fest “Balkan Folk”. Every year in the Festival participate 15000 musicians, singers and dancers. Other typical festival of the Musical Feasts “Euro Folk 2005” is “Euro Folk – Russian island 2005” International Festival for Traditional Folk Arts – held in Moscow, Russia- where under preferential conditions take part the awarded with the Grand prix and First Awards from the other musical festivals “Euro Folk”. From the International festivals, that are held untill now, 6 groups – awarded with the “Grand prix” and 5 groups awarded with the “First Awards” are invited to participate in “Euro Folk – Russian island 2005” International Festival for Traditional Folk Arts.

Typical feature of Musical Feasts “Euro Folk 2005” is, that all performances are recorded with professional audio and television technics and the best of them will be broadcasted in Europe. Natural contination of this activity is “Euro Folk” International Festival for TV and Internet Musical Products. In this festival except television and Internet musical products of “Euro Folk” and “Balkan Folk” take part also specialists and products from other European and world televisions. All this activities realize the main purpose of Musical Feasts “Euro Folk 2005” – The world is television to make popular through the media the traditional folk arts.

Preliminary Program

  1. Fest folklore program for folk art in the presence of a jury. Every day from 3th of May till 23th of May from 9 AM to 5 PM.
  2. Fest program for old drawing-room songs, classical, patriotic and touristic songs in the presence of a jury. Every day from 3th of May till 23th of May from 9 AM to 5 PM.
  3. Fest program with Orthodox church songs in the Cathedral church of Veliko Tarnovo from 5th of May till 15th of May from 2 PM to 5 PM.
  4. Evening concerts of the honoured from the jury groups every day from 7,30 PM.
  5. Panorama TV productions from 10 AM till 4.30 PM from 3th of May till 23th of May.
  6. Defiles in the center of Veliko Tarnovo on 7th, 14th and 21st of May from 6 PM.
  7. Lithium procession in the name of St. St. Cirril and Methodius on 14th of May.
  8. Official opening and closing of the Fest on 7th of May and 21st of May at 7 PM.
  9. Big national horo on 7th, 14th and 21st of May around the monument “Maika Bulgaria”.

Regulations

  1. The art directors of groups and collectives define at their own what would be the program for participation. We recommend the duration to be not longer than 30 minutes.
  2. The groups and the individual performers have to be orientated towards typical for their villages and regions songs, melodies, customs, horos and dances, which has a great significance for the colour and archetype of the folk material.
  3. Of great favour would be the attentive bearing towards the costumes, requisites and instrumentarium of the groups, which has a determinative significance for the folk-style truth of the folklore traditions.
  4. The successful attempts for individual performance of songs and humorous scenes will be awarded. Their duration is not part of the general performance duration of the group. There is also awards for authors songs in traditional genres.
  5. In the Fest program can participate art collectives and individual performers from every genre – national choares, ensembles, orchestras and dance troupes, collectivites for old drawing, classicalq touristic, patriotic and church songs without any requirements for age or organisational belonging.
  6. The participation fee is 1 EURO per person.

The main criteria is the performance skill.