Leo Dolores Popović won the award for Best Acting Performance at the 32nd edition of the “Risto Shishkov” Chamber Theatre Festival, which concluded last night in Strumica.

He received the award for his portrayal of Anya in the play Candy, based on the novel by Luke Davies and directed by Tamara Stojanoska. The production was an independent project by “Zlaten Elec” from Skopje.

The award consists of a gold medallion bearing the image of Risto Shishkov, a monetary prize of EUR 1,500, and a plaque, which will be presented to him at a later date.

The festival jury, chaired by last year’s laureate Jordan Simonov and comprising Biljana Krajchevska and Aleksandar Ivanovski, evaluated the actors’ performances.

Explaining the jury’s decision, Simonov stated:

“By exploring the necessity of questioning and interpreting the present through a subtle, non-confrontational acting language, Leo Dolores Popović aesthetically shapes the issues and the socio-political realities in which we live, creating an authentic and powerful character. Through his acting aesthetics and artistic freedom, he not only provides a key to fostering both social and individual empathy but also encourages social engagement, demonstrating that theatre is the force that inspires the process of building a better and more just world.”