EXIT was crowned 'Best Major Festival' at the 5 annual European Festival Awards, which took place at Groningen’s De Oosterport in The Netherlands last night. Festival fans from all over the world and the EFA jury contributed to EXIT’s win, beating 9 other finalists to the coveted title.
More than 360 festivals from 34 different countries applied to take part in this year’s European Festival Awards, and over 620,000 festival fans all over the world voted.
After the judges' votes were cast, the finalists were revealed in December 2013 and EXIT was shortlisted alongside Belgium's Tomorrowlands, Pukkelpop, Dour Festival and Rock Werchter, Open’re and Woodstock in Poland, Sziget in Hungary and Gernany’s Hurricane/Southside and Wacken Open Air.
The award was received by EXIT's strategic director, and one of the original founders Dusan Kovacevic, who said:"I want to thank all of our fans who made this dream to come true. EXIT 2013 was very important for us in many ways. EXIT 2014 will be also be very special, as we will celebrate our 15th edition with hosting festival in two countries, on Petrovaradin fortress in Serbia and on one of the most beautiful beaches at Adriatic sea in Montenegro. Some of you may know, EXIT is unique in the festival world, as it started as a student movement fighting for peace and freedom in Serbia and Balkans. We believe that EXIT social responsibility is still important reason for our existence.
This is the first time EXIT won the award in the category of major European festivals since European Festival Awards had been established in 2010, although it has been shortlisted every year. Exit had previously been voted the Best European Festival at UK Festival Awards in 2007 and is highly regarded amongst festival goers and media across Europe.
EXIT R:Evolution 2013 will be remembered as the most successful festival edition so far. It introduced the warm-up festival day, the number of visitors reached 200,000, single-day ticket sales broke the festival record, while 30,000 additional people attended CeeLo Green’s concert, which was a free event in June at Novi Sad’s Liberty Square, celebrating EXIT's birthday.
The Fifteenth edition of the Best European Festival will be marked by EXIT ADVENTURE, held from July 10 to 14, 2014 at the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, only to continue at SEA DANCE Festival, from July 15 to 17 at one of the most beautiful beaches at the Adriatic Sea, Jaz Beach, Montenegro. One Adventure, Two Countries, Seven Days, Countless Memories...
EXIT WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR LOYAL FANS FOR VOTING FOR US – YOU MADE OUR DREAM COME TRUE!!! SEE YOU IN JULY
TICKETS
EXIT regular ticket price £95 / 110 Euros + b/f
EXIT ADVENTURE (EXIT + SEA DANCE FESTIVAL) tickets £115 / 135 Euros
Camping tickets for EXIT and SEA DANCE will be available at the price of £25 / 30 Euros each +b/f each.
Buy tickets here: www.exitfest.org/en/worldwide
Travel and accommodation here: www.exittrip.org
EXIT - MORE THAN JUST MUSIC:
As well as the Music, EXIT never forgets its beginnings and aims to evolutions the revolution it started more than one decade ago with several key topics to improve initiative, engagement and further development of young people. EXIT is the only music festival to be created as an effect of youth activism and aims to continue to mobilise the public opinion and thought leaders in the field of youth development on a regional and a global level.
On the opening day of the festival, and the birthday of Nikola Tesla, one of the greatest scientists and inventors of all time, an initiative for Serbia's (re)branding took place with EXIT taking a leading role in promoting positive changes and the image of Serbia and Balkan region to the world and boost its tourism and economy development.
An agreement with the cooperation of the University of Novi Sad and EXIT was signed, with a goal to promote the importance of culture, science and education among the youth and the society in general. A special tribute was paid to one of the biggest scientists and inventors of all time, the brilliant Nikola Tesla, whose name was featured on the name of the festival's main stage, as well as the Tesla Corner, named after the famous Tesla Corner in New York City, where the visitors had the opportunity to interact with various experiments.
Through a series of public discussions, media articles, workshops, lectures by successful startups, Exit is encouraging young people to take destiny in their own hands and start their own start up business. Several workshops took place on festivals were mentors were giving free lecturing about various topics including; how to create/produce electronic music.
The leading European eco-conference Go Group in cooperation with the European Festival Association was also held, alongside a large number of socially responsible actions that were created during the festival, and whose results will come to life during the next edition of the festival.
Other projects EXIT are involved with are promoting positive role models for young people in the region and highlight all those young, talented, creative people who work hard everyday to make positive change in their own life and their community. Exit donated hundreds of free tickets to the best students, youth activists, young artists and young humanitarian workers.
EXIT. Where hedonism meets activism.
About Festival Awards Europe:
Established in 2009, in co-operation between Festival Awards Ltd, Yourope (the European Festival Association) and Eurosonic Noorderslag, Festival Awards Europe is the only event solely dedicated to recognising the contributions and achievements of the event organisers and performing artists that generate billions of Euros for local economies and brighten up the summer for tens of millions of festival-goers each year. Decided by a combination of public vote and industry juries, the awards are presented at a sold out ceremony taking place at Groningen's De Oosterport in The Netherlands. eu.festivalawards.com
Thanks to Nikki McNeill at Global Publicity? for this news item
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