Lorenci, an acclaimed Slovenian theatre director who won several Borštniks before, directed The Learned Ladies (Učene ženske) for the SLG Celje and the Ptuj City Theatre.

The judging panel, chaired by Martin Kušej of Munich's Residenztheater, praised "the creative team for upgrading Moliere's play to boldly show the tragic aspect of the present political and artistic moment".

Trough a series of exceptional scenes, the production, which the jury hailed for its high aesthetic level, "offers deep personal insights into intimacy, art and one's weaknesses".

Mateja Koležnik, meanwhile, received the Borštnik for directing "Pred upokojitvijo" (Eve of Retirement) by Thomas Bernhard for the Prešeren Theatre from Kranj.

The judging panel was unanimous in that "by directing this painfully tragic production, Koležnik has fully exposed her exceptional talent".

A special prize was meanwhile given to the Republic of Slovenia, a production the Mladinsko Theatre staged on the occasion of the country's 25th anniversary.

The judging panel said the show was a politically charged, responsible and artistic gesture in the year of Slovenia's independence celebrations which "unmasks goings-on in the political backstage without reservations".

The four Borštniks for acting went to actresses Pia Zemljič and Vesna Jevnikar and actors Jernej Šugman and Primož Pirnat. The best young actress award was split among Patrizia Jurinčič Finžgar and Liza Marija Grašič.

Best costume design award went to Jelena Proković for Peer Gynt, the co-production of the MGL from Ljubljana and the Slovenian Theatre House (SSG) from Trieste, directed by Eduard Miler.

The best overall visual design went to the group who created Eve of Retirement.

Eleven productions, picked by the festival's selector Petra Vidali among 98 productions of the past season,, competed for the awards.

The awards were conferred at the closing ceremony of the Borštnik Festival in Maribor, where veteran actor Dare Valič received this year's Borštnik Ring, the highest accolade for theatre acting in Slovenia.