INTERNATIONAL PUPPET THEATRE FESTIVAL OPENS IN ZAGREB

( Editorial: --> 6713 ) ZAGREB, Aug 29 (Hina) - "Stolen Moon", a performance of the Minor Theatre from the Czech Republic, on Friday opened in Zagreb the 31st international puppet theatre festival, PIF. This year's festival, which closes on September 4, will gather 20 theatres from 11 countries. Since its humble beginnings in 1968 PIF has grown into an important international festival, said Croatian Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic on opening night. He recalled that PIF's continuity had run uninterrupted even during the war years in Croatia, as in the critical year of 1991, when theatres from Switzerland and Slovenia made guest appearances. According to Livija Kroflin, the festival's artistic manager, a special feature this year will be the performance of The Cosmic Theater from New York, the first appearance of an American group, and three performances of puppet theatres from Israel. This year PIF will also feature groups from Hungary, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Great Britain and Croatia. Performances will be held at the Zagreb Puppet Theatre, the Zagreb Youth Theatre and Komedija, another theatre in the capital. Awards for the 18 competing performances will be given by a children's jury and an international expert jury. PIF is the oldest international festival being held in Zagreb. (hina) ha 291816 MET aug 98