On the evening of Saturday, June 27, San Servolo Square in Buie hosted the long-awaited finale of "Dimela cantando," the competition for original songs written strictly in the Istrian-Venetian dialect, thus concluding the 15th edition of the Istrian-Venetian Festival in style.

GOOD GUYS

LITERARY COMPETITION

A total of 146 works were submitted to the 2026 literary competition, divided into the following categories: Pici (6-10 years), Medi (11-14 years), and Grandi (15-18 years). The jury, composed of Alessandro Lakošeljac Ukmar, Martina Trento Dagostini, and Daniela Ušić, after analyzing the anonymous submissions, decided to award first prize in the Piccoli a Vita Baksa category from the SEI "Galileo Galilei" of Umag for "El tavolo vecio de la mia fameia" (mentor: Svjetlana Pernić Ćetojević), and second prize to Evan Santin from the SEI "Bernardo Benussi" of Rovinj for "La me barcheta" (mentor: Romana Lordanić). Third prize went to Vita Mei Bogović of the SEI "Galileo Galilei" of Umag for "Do ciacole tra vizini," mentored by Ilenija Anić. Finally, an honorable mention went to Matej Rakovac of the SEI "Galileo Galilei" of Umag - Bassania branch - for "Mio nono sioga boce," mentored by Carmen Rota.
In the Medium category, first prize went to Lara Vigini of the Buje CI for "El mio posto preferì," mentored by Lena Korenika. Second place went to Damian Codiglia Vidach of the "Leonardo da Vinci" SMSI in Buje for "Vecio olivo," followed by mentor Tamara Tomasich. Third prize went to Elena Makovac of the "Galileo Galilei" SEI in Umag for "El cucal de casa mia," mentored by Marianna Jelicich Buić. Honorable mention went to Tina Jurman of the "Bernardo Benussi" SEI in Rovinj for "El lavoro de sardelina de mia nona Rosy," mentored by Dea Markovski.
In the "Large" category, first prize went to Lana Kljajić of the "Antonio Borme" School of Music in Rovinj with "Esser ziovini qua," mentored by Larisa Degobbis. Second prize went to Alessia Despot of the same school with "No per la scola ma per la vita," again mentored by Larisa Degobbis. Third place went to Marika Omanović of the "Dante Alighieri" School of Music in Pula with "El sogno de poder svolar...de novo," mentored by Alda Trbojević. Finally, honorable mention went to Iris Rakić and Lana Zovanović of the "Antonio Borme" School of Music in Rovinj for "Vlado Benussi, el maestro de Rovigno," mentored by Larisa Degobbis.

VIDEO COMPETITION

A total of 25 videos were submitted for the 2026 Video Contest. Eight videos were selected for the Elementary Schools (grades 1-4), 12 for the Elementary Schools (grades 5-8), and 5 for the High Schools (grades 5-8).
The jury, composed of Ilenia Matticchio, Mate Mekiš, and Marko Voštan, after analyzing the submitted works, decided that first prize in the Individual Works section for Elementary Schools (1st to 4th grade) went to Antonio Putinja of the Galileo Galilei School of Music in Umag, Bassania branch, for "La mora cantada" (mentor: Carmen Rota). Second prize was awarded to Matej Rakovac, also of the Galileo Galilei School of Music in Umag, Bassania branch, for "Fritaja co i spàruzi" (mentor: Carmen Rota).
In the Group Work section, first prize went to Simone Vežnaver, Alex Acquavita Kozlović, Dino Paljuh, and Liam Acquavita Kozlović of the Buje CI for “TG 2050 – absurd news from the future,” with mentors Lena Korenika and Erika Trento.
Second prize was won by Mia Pernich, Simone Vežnaver, Nikolaj Kramersteter, Emma Cramer, and Thomas Dešković of the SEI “Edmondo De Amicis” from Buje for “Do ridade in mezo al prà” with mentor teacher Milena Saina.
Third prize went to Erin Tade, Veronica Šulina, Aria Sirotić, Danijel Jakac, Sheryl Bertoša, Elizabeth and Anastasia Zubin of the SEI “Galileo Galilei” in Umag for “Ma dove semo rivadi” with mentor teacher Ilenija Anić.
In the Elementary Schools (5th to 8th grade) individual work category, first prize was not awarded. Second prize went to Anna Brdar of the Galileo Galilei School of Advanced Studies (SEI) in Umag for "A Porcupine Makes Spring" (mentor teacher: Sabina Maurić). Third prize was awarded to Andrea Karendziuk of the Vodnjan School of Advanced Studies (SEI) for "The Nona Palaces" (mentor teacher: Patrizia Sfettina Jurman).
In the group work section, first prize was awarded to Leo and Lara Vigini, Ivana Estelle Beletić, Nika Vižintin, and Emma Markov from the CI Buje for “Parents of yesterday vs parents of today vs parents of the future” (mentor teachers: Lena Korenika and Erika Trento).
Second prize was awarded to Sara Bernich, Raoul Bernich, and Enya Grassi Pavletić of the Galileo Galilei School of Music in Umag for "Gnagna Cia e le serieze in perìcolo" (mentor: Sabina Maurić). Third prize went to Mateo and Chiara Kalcina of the Edmondo De Amicis School of Music in Buje for "Vita de canpanja" (mentor: Andrea Sinožić).
In the Middle School category, the Individual Project section did not win first prize. Second prize went to Mattia Banić of the Pietro Coppo Primary School in Izola for his work "The Grandson and the Grandson" (mentor teacher: Gregor Sotlar).
Third prize was awarded to Noel Bernich of the Leonardo da Vinci School of Music in Buje for "Per farme dormir cuando che jero picio" (mentor: Sabina Maurić). In the Group Work category, first prize was awarded to Serena Basaneže, Roko Nadal, Nika Ponjavić, Eliza Radin, Chiara Zdunić, Sara Calcina, and Roko Tanfara of the Leonardo da Vinci School of Music in Buje for "I oto de la 'da Vinci' e Bruno" (mentor: Ketrin Antolović Dešković). Second prize was awarded to Alex Belušić, Domink Jugovac, Karlo Bartolić, Gioele Romano, and Nika Drušković of the Leonardo da Vinci School of Music in Buje for "Modi de dir" (mentor: Michela Altin). Third prize was won by Iris Rakić and Lana Zovanović from SMSI “Antonio Borme” in Rovinj for “I veci ne conta” (mentor teacher: Larisa Degobbis).

Source: The Voice of the People

TELL ME SINGING 

This year's international jury of experts included Andrea F., Stribor Filić, Alessandro Mocellin, Tea Tidić, and Martina Vocci. Sonia's song "No me basto" (lyrics and music by Sonia and arrangement by Amir Karalić) received two awards from the jury: Best Lyrics and Best Arrangement. The song addresses the sensitive topic of mental health, the uncertainties of life that everyone, sooner or later, is forced to face; but also the awareness that the first step to saving oneself from the precipice into which one falls is to never give up. The two awards were presented by Jessica Acquavita, Vice President of the Istrian Region, and Fabrizio Vižintin, Mayor of the City of Buje.

Three songs received special mentions from the jury. For its unparalleled energy, "Magari a pìe e sentsa monopàtino" by Riccardo Bosazzi – Ricky (lyrics, music, and arrangement by Riccardo Bosazzi – Ricky) was recognized. "Per senpre (nona)" by Matteo Tromba and "Cuel'aria de mar" by Stefano Hering (lyrics and music by Virgilio Tommasini and arrangement by Leonardo Klemenc, Virgilio Tommasini, and Stefano Hering) were joint winners for being the two male performances that most moved the jury. The special mentions were presented on stage by Massimo Cavazzana, Mayor of the Municipality of Tribano (province of Padua).

The audience vote for the Audience Award was based on a combined percentage of votes from all three evenings, namely those from Buje, Izola, and Tribano. With 29,9% of the vote, the song "Per senpre (nona)" by Matteo Tromba (lyrics and music by Sara Salvi and arrangement by Mauro Giorgi) won the audience's hearts. The song focuses on the loving bond between granddaughter and grandmother, and her presence that endures in all things even after death, thanks to the power of memory: "I am with you in the way I breathe, in the way I know how to love." The Academia de ła Łengua Veneta also praised the song, awarding it the Technical Prize for Best Lyrics: "For its ability to convey, with originality of imagery, rhythm, and vocabulary, adult reflection on the times and ways of growing up, learning, and being guided with love and presence." The two awards were presented, respectively, by Roberto Ciambetti, former President of the Veneto Regional Council, and Lorenzo Callegaro, collaborator delegated by the Academia de ła Łengua Veneta.

The jury had no doubts: "Aria" by Majda Šušelj, with lyrics and music by the same author and arrangement by Luka Vretenar, is the winning song of this edition of "Dimela cantando." The award was presented by Paolo Demarin, president of the Executive Committee of the Italian Union.

Source: The Voice of the People