(ANSA) - TRIESTE - Renowned theatre director Haris Pasovic from Sarajevo is the new artistic director of Mittelfest, the festival of Mitteleuropa in Cividale del Friuli (Udine), announced today the president of the Festival, Federico Rossi, who along with the Regional Councillor for Culture, Gianni Torrenti, yesterday presented the name of the new director (for the coming three years) to the Board of Directors.

Pasovic has participated over the years in major festivals around the world, including the Edinburgh International Festival, the Avignon Festival, the UK City of Culture, the Naples Theatre Festival, the National Arts Festival of South Africa, Singapore Arts Festival.

His production of ''The Awakening of Spring'' by Frank Wedekind is considered a milestone in the theatrical life of former Yugoslavia. During the siege of Sarajevo he produced a legendary ''Waiting for Godot'' by Samuel Beckett directed by Susan Sontag, and founded the Sarajevo Film Festival, as well as re-founding and directing the Mess International Theatre Festival in Sarajevo.

His ''Sarajevo Red Line'' visual artwork, a 825-meter-long art installation at the heart of the Bosnian capital, appeared on the front pages of newspapers around the world in 2012. He is the artistic director of the East West Center in Sarajevo.

''We have made with enthusiasm - said Rossi and Torrenti - the choice to bring back to Cividale again after 25 years an international direction. Haris Pasovic's outstanding personality starts a new exciting era for Mittelfest. We made this important decision taking into account Pasovic's multi-ethnic context, his excellent artistic career, the top quality projects he has directed all over Europe and the civic engagement that has always characterized his works''. Haris Pasovic will be in the FVG region next week to meet the municipality of Cividale, its staff and the local media. (ANSA).