12th FolCalFest - Cross-Border Dialogues: Polyphonic Relationships

VIDEO TRAILER

The main theme of the “12th FolCalFest|Cross-Border Dialogues: Polyphonic Relationships” is the folk polyphony in the southwest Balkans and, particularly, how it shapes intercommunal relationships between bordering people. The festival brings out the cultural osmosis between these people as well as the creative transformations in cultural expression produced by it. The main aspects of the festival are going to be:

• Intercultural presentation of folk polyphony - in both singing and dancing representation – from areas on either side of the Greek-Albanian border, namely the north part of Ioannina and Thesprotia Prefecture (Greece) and the south part of Gjirokastër and Vlorë County (Albania). Both areas are registered their folk polyphonies in their respective National Inventories of Intangible Cultural Heritage (I.C.H), while the Albanian folk iso-polyphony is also registered in the UNESCO I.C.H Inventory.
• Participation of Greece-based groups with members being:
  • Repatriated Greeks of Albania (first and second generation),
  • Albanian economic migrants (first and second generation), and
  • Greeks (originating or not from the regional unit of Epirus) that have been taught polyphonic singing as a way to express themselves and communicate, and as a means of entertainment in urban environments.

FolCalFest https://folcalfest.net/:

• since 2020:
  • is under the auspices of and receives subsidy by the Greek Ministry of Culture,
  • receives subsidy, is supported and is included in the yearly cultural events held by Papagos-Holargos Municipality.
• since 2021:
  • is under the auspices of the Region of Attica.
• since 2023:
  • is under the auspices of the Region of Epirus and of the Ioannina Municipality.

The 12th FolCalFest is a part of cultural events held in the following occasions:

• the European Heritage Days 2024,
• the Festivals of Europe,
• cultural projects run by N.G.Os that are accredited to provide advisory services to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of I. C. H. (UNESCO, 2003),
• the Polyphonia Network – Interreg – IPA CBC Greece Albania Polyphonia (ERKET is a partner of the Polyphonia Network since May 2021).

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PROGRAM

INCEPTION

Musical dialogue of Nikos Filippidis (jamara & klarinet) and Siri Sadikaj(fyell). Accompanied by musicians: Giorgos Marinakis (violin), Kostas Filippidis (lute) and Nikos Katsaros (Epirot defi)

PART I | Polyphonic local ensembles [7:20 - 9:20 pm]

Albanian economic migrants in Greece | Greek repatriated expatriates from Albania

1. Polyphonic Ensemble “Buron Kënga Labe”
2. Cultural Association "Vuthroto"
3. Polyphonic Group "Lot Kurbeti"
4. Polyphonic Ensemble "The nightingales of Vourkos"
5. Polyphonic Group "Malli i mërgimtarit"
6. Polyphonic Scheme "Ta Delviniotika"
7. Polyphonic Group “Vëllazërimi”
8. Polyphonic Group of Kosovitsa

PART II | Interlocal & supralocal polyphonic ensembles [9:30 - 10:15 pm]

1. Polyphonic Group "Kerantzides" | ER.K.E.T. | Singers from Chalkida
2. Polyphonic of Epirus | Odes
3. Polyphonic Group “Figou Throisma”

PART III | Polyphonic ensembles & contemporary arrangements [10:20 - 10:50 pm]

1. By voice
2. Polyphonic Cafe