Goran Vojnović, born in 1980 in Ljubljana, is one of the most recognizable figures in the contemporary Slovenian cultural landscape. The writer, film and theatre director, columnist and graduate of the Slovenian Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television (AGRFT) explores identity, belonging and social differences through his works.
With his first novel, Čefurji raus! (Southern Scum, Go Home!, 2008), he drew attention to himself as an exceptional storyteller. The story, which follows a young boy faced with the challenges of immigrant identity, impressed both critics and readers. For it, he received the Prešeren Fund Award and the Kresnik Award, and the novel also experienced a very successful film and theatre adaptation. In 2021, he wrote a sequel to the story titled Đorđić se vrača (Đorđić is Back). With works such as Jugoslavija, moja dežela (Yugoslavia, My Fatherland, 2012) and Figa (The Fig Tree, 2016), he only consolidated his position as one of the most respected Slovenian authors – both novels also received the Kresnik Award, an achievement that he shares with only a few. His works are marked by intimate stories intertwined with historical events and social changes. For example, in the book Yugoslavia, My Fatherland, he explored the consequences of the collapse of the former Yugoslavia through the eyes of a young protagonist searching for his father. The novel The Fig Tree is a subtle portrait of family ties and internal conflicts brought about by differences between generations. His books have been translated into several foreign languages and have been internationally recognized, as confirmed by the Angelus Award.
In addition to his literary work, Vojnović has also established himself as a director. His film debut Piran - Pirano (2010) is a sensitive portrait of people connected by history but separated by borders. With the adaptation of Southern Scum, Go Home! (2013), he successfully transferred his novel to film, where he once again explored the dynamics of the immigrant community in Slovenia. His latest film, Zbudi me (Wake Me Up, 2022), deals with personal and social traumas stemming from the wars in the Balkans, and confirms his ability to explore emotional themes in depth.
He also works as a columnist for the newspaper Dnevnik, where he often discusses current social issues. His thoughts are marked by empathy and a critical view of contemporary society. It is precisely this ability to reflect on broader social contexts that allows him to transcend the local framework through his works and offer a subtle insight into Slovenian and wider Balkan society. His ability to present local stories in a way that touches a global audience places him among the most influential Slovenian creators of contemporary times.
As part of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica - Gorica, he was invited to participate in the project Unable to Die, which is considered the heart of the official GO! 2025 program. The entire project, in which the Mittelfest association, GO! 2025 and the Slovenian National Theatre Nova Gorica, was conceptualized by Italian director Giacomo Pedini from Mittelfest. The theatrical production will consist of three parts, Vojnović wrote the dramatic text for the second part of the trilogy, entitled In Search of a Lost Language, which deals with the period after World War II and the time of the sharp division into East and West. The premiere of the theatrical production of Vojnović's adaptation was held this November on the main stage of the SNG Nova Gorica.
The protagonists of his story are people who belong to the same family, but who found themselves on two sides of the border. Tragic history has placed them on different sides: "In Search of a Lost Language is a story about the unreliability of memory. Memory that leaves us, memory that deceives us, memory that separates us. This is a story about the past and the present, about the past that failed to become the past, and about the present that is stifled by the past," he said at the premiere of the play.
Photo: Mankica Kranjec (Beletrina)
