Visit-Montenegro.com : All Set and Ready to Go!

Podgorica – Everything is ready for this years’ festival “Suncane Skale”, it has been confirmed by Slobodan Bucevac, Director of the Festival that will take place on 7, 8 and 9 July at Herceg Novi’s Kanli Tower.

“We shall have 24 singers performing on the evening called ‘New Stars’ and equal number of those performing on the evening ‘Song of the Summer. We have nothing significant to announce in terms of changes in the program.

As we have promised last year, we have successfully taken a step forward in leaving the purely Balkan framework, so that we shall greet the competitors from 25 countries. This festival will have great importance for the entire region of southeastern Europe”, Bucevac said.

Producer of this Festival, Vuk Rajkovic maintained that this years’ Festival would be far better from the previous ones.

He also announced that many cameras would be engaged to convey atmosphere to television audience. This years’ “Suncane Skale” would be broadcast by Montenegrin national television, RTCG and TV Pink Montenegro. Broadcasts would also be done by “Z” television for Croatia, TV Malta, Bulgarian television “Balkanika”, “Net” television from Slovenia, while RTL has announced the special coverage of the Festival.

Awards for the performers are Euro 30,000. The winner would receive Euro 25,000, out of which 10,000 in cash and 15,000 in a car which is donated by “Kia Montenegro.” Second and third place winner will get Euro 3,000 and 2,000. Presenters of the show would be Nina Mudrinic, Milica Kilibarda and Ivan Maksimovic.

At the opening of the Festival, “Prince’s Award” would be presented to winners in 15 categories. It is still possible to vote on the website of the Festival (suncaneskale.cg.yu).

For the best band, nominees are: “Amadeus bend”, “Crvena jabuka” and “Van Gogh”; for the best album of the year, Elena Risteska, Nina Badric and Sergej Cetković. Nominees in the category of best solution for the album are Laka, Aleksa Jelic and Ana Stanic; best festival performers are last years’ winner Lejla Hot, as well as Rebeka Drmelj and Jelena Tomasevic.

Debutant of the year is to be chosen between Lejla Hot, Laka and “Beauty Queens”.

Lifetime achievement award is attributed – post mortem – to Tose Proeski.

In the competition for the best lyrics are Marina Tucakovic, Sergej Cetkovic and Jelena from “Zana” band.

Nominated for the best composers are, beside Cetkovic, Zeljko Jokismovic and Vlado Georgiev.

Band “Crvena jabuka” would also compete for another award – the concert of the year, alongside Toni Cetinjski and Zeljko Joksimovic.

Best arrangements are to be selected between songs “Jednom mila”, “Zavet” and “Igra bez granica”, while those competing for the best single are Natasa Bekvalac, Vlado Georgiev and Cetinski.

Candidates for the duet of the year are Aleksa Jelic and Ana Stajdohar, Goca and Al Dino, and Tijana Dapcevic and Vlado Janevski.

In the category of the best male interpretation, nominees are Zeljko Vasic, Georgiev and Cetkovic. Best female performer would be chosen between Risteska, Marija Serifovic and Nina Badric.

The audience would also choose the hit of the year, between Laka, Milena Vucic and Natasa Bekvalac.

During the second evening of the Festival, the best new star would be selected, which would compete with already confirmed participants at the “Song of the Summer” evening.

Maja Comes from Budva

Although it had been established as a rule that all those who sing at Budva’s Festival cannot also sing at “Skala”, the organizers have introduced a precedent by allowing Maja Odzaklijevska to perform after her appearance at “Pjesma Mediterana” Festival. She would perform a duet with Slaven Knezovic.

“Up until now, we have avoided to allow those who had performed at Budva to appear as competitors at our Festival. However, considering the fact that Maja was to perform in a duet with Knezovic, we did not want to create a problem there”, Bucevac explained.

The Audience Would Be Thrilled

Some of the Montenegrin participants at the upcoming Festival have also addressed the public at yesterday’s event:

Jelena Kazanegra: “Given the fact that ‘Skale’ remain the most successful Festival, I have decided to perform there also this year. Song ‘Prsten u vodi’, which I would sing alongside Knez is most beautiful and I have high hopes for our chances.”

Aleksandra Bucevac: “The piece I’ll perform had been done in New York. And, apart from the version in our language, I also did one in English. This is the first time I am directly performing at ‘Song of the Summer’ and first time I am singing a ballad.”

Anja Masanović: “I shall sing a ballad again this year, which is different from the one I did last year – ‘Boje jutra.’ I have no doubt that the audience would like it, which also remains the most important thing for me.”

Amko Sabotić: “Performing at ‘Skala’ poses a great challenge for me. I have an exquisite song and I shall perform at a superb festival.”

Jelena Djordjevic: “I have been completely satisfied with what had happened with the song I introduced at ‘Skala 2007.’ So, I decided to take part this year, as well.”

Slaven Knezovic: “I am doing my best with the song I am performing. I made sure it was up to the standards required by the Festival and that it sounded very Mediterranean. I can also announce that Maja and I would have a rather interesting performance.”

(3 July 2008)

By: M.V.