The director and executive producer of the festival
I am honored and excited to invite you to the 2021 Akko International Fringe Theater Festival, celebrating its 42nd anniversary. It is my first year in this position, and I am delighted to lead the festival, which has become one of the pillars of Israeli culture and has built an international reputation for itself, drawing visitors from all over the world.
After an incredibly complicated and challenging year, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Akko Festival is returning to its original and authentic home within the magnificent walls of the old and historic city of Akko.
For dozens of years, the festival has become one of the leading cultural events in Israel, known as the hub which allows all performing artists - playwrights, creators, directors, actors, dancers and more - to fulfill their dreams through original, diverse and different Israeli art.
This year, The Akko Fringe Theater Festival includes a wide variety of fascinating and inspiring shows, magical competition shows, moving short performances by individual creators, guest shows, and spectacular street spectacles.
I invite the people of Akko and the audience to come, join us, get inspired and enjoy a refreshing and magical cultural experience.
On a personal note, I would like to thank all the people who helped make the Akko Festival unique:
The Mayor of Akko, Mr. Shimon Lankri, for having faith in me, and for his personal involvement and support, the Minister of Sports and Culture, MK Hili Tropper and his team, the CEO of the Akko Municipality, Mr. Yaniv Ashur, the Akko Economic Company Ltd. and its CEO - Mr. Albert Ben Shlush, the Old Akko Development Co. and its head, Mr. Yuval Porat, Mifal HaPayis, the Ministry for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev and Galilee, and the Municipality of Akko and all its workers and directors.
A special thanks to the members of the festival steering committee, the actors and creators, the dedicated festival production team and the artistic production team, which have been working with me and the festival.
On this occasion, I would like to thank Shalom Shmuelov, the Festival's artistic director, who is ending his position this year after four years in office. Shalom has led the creative side of things with outstanding professionalism and has undoubtedly left his mark for all those to follow. I wish him great success in his future endeavors.
Thank you all for joining the journey, and good luck to us all.
Lizu Ohayon, Festival Director and Executive Producer