From October 16 to 18, 2025, the Novi Sad Theatre – Újvidéki Színház hosted the International Theatre Festival “Timeless,” the first festival in Serbia dedicated to the discrimination of older persons and the phenomenon of ageism.

The festival was organized within the framework of the European project Age Against the Machine, led by the Foundation “Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture,” in partnership with the Red Cross of Serbia and the troupe “Drž’ ne daj.” The Red Cross of Serbia provided expert support in understanding and publicly presenting different aspects of ageism, with experts Nataša Todorović and Dr Milutin Vračević participating as consultants on this topic.
The festival was directed by Lazar Jovanov, Branka Bajić Jovanov, and Demir Mekić.

Over three days, the festival presented six performances from Serbia, Portugal, Denmark, Italy, and Poland, each followed by a discussion with the audience. These conversations, moderated by Nataša Todorović and Branka Bajić, created a space for dialogue on how prejudice and stereotypes toward older people manifest in everyday life, and how they can be overcome through art, empathy, and intergenerational cooperation.

Through performances such as “Don’t Forget Me!”, “Older Women? Who Says So? We’re Still Here!”, “Loneliness Is Frightening”, “Waiting for the Rain: Ageism in Six Scenes”, “Interwoven Rights”, and “The Body”, artists vividly depicted the challenges faced by older persons — from dementia and loneliness to gender inequality, employment, and the right to age with dignity.

The festival particularly highlighted positive examples of intergenerational dialogue and solidarity, as well as the power of art as a tool for breaking down stereotypes. It underscored that ageism — discrimination based on age — is not only an issue for older people but for society as a whole, as the World Health Organization reminds us that ageing concerns everyone, and any of us may be affected by this form of inequality.

In addition to the rich theatrical program, an interactive DJ workshop titled “From Gramophone to Smartphone” brought together participants from different generations to learn, create, and perform music together.

The festival was also supported by volunteers from the Red Cross of Novi Sad, who vividly demonstrated intergenerational cooperation in action.

The “Timeless” Festival once again demonstrated that art can be a powerful catalyst for social change, inspiring communities to reflect, empathize, and build a world where dignity, solidarity, and equality among generations are shared value.