The fifth edition of mittelyoung ended with great success, once again confirming it as a vibrant and necessary festival for the international under-30 scene.
The nine shows in the programme were selected from 182 applications received from 22 European countries through the open call 2025, which confirmed the interest and vitality of young contemporary creativity.
Among these, the under-30 curators – the heart of the project and the driving force behind the artistic selection – chose the three winning shows, which will be hosted again on the stage of Mittelfest 2025, on stage from 18 to 27 July, within the official programme dedicated to the taboo theme.
The winners are:
dance
SOLITARIO
music
SORVINA LIVE CONCERT
theater
C19H28O2
(O COME AVERE LE PALLE)
Alongside the selection of the curates, special prizes were also awarded by the expert jury consisting of Roberto Canziani, Aleš Novak and Matilde Vigna, who presented awards for:
Best Concept
NEW RESONANCE: SAXOPHONE UNBOUND
with its sharp and elegant staging, sheds a different light over Mittelyoung 2025 theme: Taboo, taking the audience into an imaginative journey with a taste of niche contemporary music and dreamy quotes
Best Performer
RICCARDO SAGGESE
In BLESS, Riccardo Saggese delivers a performance of remarkable intensity and restraint, captivating the audience with every movement. His physical articulation is precise and expressive, while simultaneously opening space for vulnerability. The award is given for his performative maturity, expressive power, and ability to speak through silence
Best Show
C19H28O2
The performance C19H28O2 powerfully and precisely addresses the complex question of contemporary male identity. The collective Lidi Precari transcends formal genre boundaries with a bold and innovative theatrical gesture, creating a deeply reflective experience for the audience and successfully combining aesthetic radicalism, intellectual sharpness, and socially relevant commentary
Special Jury Prize
MAD BELTRAMI
What is a body? What can a body become? Still imprisoned by prejudices, bodies can only get free though acts of responsibility and rebellion – which do not document nor describe, but are a manifestation of the irrefutable power of awareness and determination.
