POSITION

 About the International Theater Festival-Laboratory «QITFest»

I. General Provisions

         1.      The Festival is held to preserve, develop, and popularize the best achievements of world theatrical art, as well as to enhance the status of theater in society.

         2.      The objectives of the Festival are:

         •        Development of international cultural relations;

         •        Preservation of cultural diversity;

         •        Improvement of professional and performing skills;

         •        Increasing the aesthetic level of audiences;

         •        Establishing the international reputation of the city of Kostanay as one of the centers for the active development of modern theatrical art;

         •        Providing independent, in-depth criticism and evaluation of theatrical works presented at the Festival;

         •        Bringing together like-minded individuals and theater professionals who prioritize acting in performances.

         3.      The founders of the Festival are:

         •        Akimat of Kostanay Region;

         •        Department of Culture of Kostanay Region.

         4.      The direct organizers of the Festival are:

         •        Kostanay Regional Kazakh Drama Theater named after I. Omarov;

         •        Department of Culture of the Akimat of Kostanay Region.

         5.      The preparation and organization of the Festival are managed by the Organizing Committee, whose composition is approved by an order of the Department of Culture of Kostanay Region.

         6.      The Kostanay Regional Kazakh Drama Theater named after I. Omarov is responsible for all activities related to the preparation and execution of the Festival, including:

         •        Selection of participants;

         •        Creation of the Festival program;

         •        Publication of promotional materials;

         •        Production of souvenirs;

         •        Invitation and accreditation of the media;

         •        Reception, accommodation, and logistical arrangements for participants and guests;

         •        Coordination of the Festival Expert Council;

         •        Development and implementation of the Festival schedule.

II. Terms, Stages, and Conditions

         7.      The Festival is held at the Kostanay Regional Kazakh Drama Theater named after I. Omarov.

         8.      Dates of the Festival: October 1–5, 2025.

         9.      The Festival consists of the following stages:

         •        Announcement of the call for participation: from March 1, 2025;

         •        Application submission and selection process: from March 1 to May 25, 2025;

         •        Formation of the Festival Expert Council: from March 10 to May 25, 2025.

         10.    The Festival is a competitive event.

         11.    Participants: Professional state theaters from Kazakhstan and other countries.

         12.    The Festival poster consists of performances selected by the artistic council from the submitted applications, as well as performances recommended by the expert council.

         13.    The Festival program includes performances for different age categories and of various genres and formats.

         14.    Each theater participating in the Festival presents one performance in the official program.

         15.    Awards and recognition:

         •        All participants receive a Diploma of Participation and a commemorative prize with Festival symbols.

         •        Festival laureates (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners — Golden, Silver, and Bronze Ear) receive a Festival statuette and cash prizes.

          16.    Application process:

         •        Applications for participation (Appendix 4) along with recordings (video, CD, DVD) of the proposed performances must be submitted to the Kostanay Regional Kazakh Drama Theater named after I. Omarov from March 1 to May 25, 2025 by email:  kaz_teatr@mail.ru    

Specialist responsible for the festival:  Deputy Director  Aldangorov Darkhan Polatuly  +7 707 176 76 97

Assistant director:  Myktybaeva Laura Nurlankyzy  +7 708 202 09 80   

          •      Submitted materials will not be returned.

         17.    Confirmation of participation: Theaters must provide the organizing committee with:

         •        Technical specifications for the performance;

         •        Brief information about the theater;

         •        Synopsis and program of the performance;

         •        At least three performance photographs.

         •        All textual materials must be provided in Kazakh, Russian, and/or English.

         •        Foreign participants whose performances are in another language must additionally provide a short libretto and a full translation of the performance in Russian and/or English (in electronic format).

         18.    Festival-provided support:

         •        Stage and production services as per the technical specifications in the submitted application;

         •        Hotel accommodation for three days for theater groups (up to 20 people) — arrival day, performance day, departure day;

         •        Three meals per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner);

         •        Excursions and cultural programs;

         •        Travel and local transportation expenses (airport/railway station transfers, transportation to the venue).

         19.    The Festival poster is finalized based on confirmations received from participating theaters by June 10, 2025.

         20.    Expert Council:

         •        During the Festival, an Expert Council is formed to conduct detailed analyses of the performances and participate in post-performance discussions.

         •        The members of the Expert Council are appointed by the Festival Organizing Committee from among leading theater professionals from Kazakhstan and abroad.

         21.    The Festival is covered by regional and national media.

         22.    Information about the Festival is published on the official websites of the Kostanay Regional Kazakh Drama Theater named after I. Omarov and the Festival.

III. Financial Support

         23.    The Festival is funded by:

         •        The regional budget;

         •        Contributions from Festival participants;

         •        Donations from legal entities and individuals;

         •        Revenue from ticket sales.

         24.    The Kostanay Regional Kazakh Drama Theater named after I. Omarov is responsible for expenses related to:

          •        Accommodation and meals for Festival participants and guests (only two representatives from each group can stay for the entire Festival; additional participants’ stays must be arranged separately);

         •        Travel expenses for Expert Council members and honorary guests;

         •        Fees for Expert Council members and honorary guests;

         •        Local transportation services;

         •        Advertising, promotional, and souvenir materials;

         •        Administrative expenses, including communication services;

         •        Opening and closing ceremonies;

         •        Cultural program arrangements;

         •        Technical support for Festival events.

         25.    Expenses covered by participating theaters:

         •        Visa processing and any other necessary entry documents for Kazakhstan;

         •        Travel expenses to and from Kostanay (theaters purchase their own tickets);

         •        Transportation of props, sets, and costumes to and from Kostanay.

         26.    The progress and results of the Festival will be covered in the media.