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A member of the SNG Maribor theatre house since 1977, Novak has appeared on stage of the Maribor and other Slovenian theatres in over 100 roles.

He is also very well known for his roles in more than 40 films, most notable being the role of Gajaš Pišti in the 2007 blockbuster film "Petelinji zajtrk" (Rooster's Breakfast).

Theatre expert Vasja Predan labelled him as "one of the most expressive actors in the present-day Slovenian drama theatre" in his book "Hundred Slovenian Theatre Artists".

Born in 1952 in Maribor, Novak graduated from the Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television in Ljubljana and has received numerous awards for his work, including six Borštnik awards for theatre roles, the Prešeren Fund Prize, one of the top Slovenian recognitions for artistic achievement, in 1985.

The laureate will receive the prestigious Borštnik Ring at the closing ceremony of the Borštnik Festival, which will take place in the city of Maribor between 17 and 26 October.

The festival will feature eleven productions in the competition programme and an international programme featuring shows from Germany, Hungary, Serbia and Spain. It will open with "Murmel Murmel" by Berlin's Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, which will be this theatre house's first guest appearance in Slovenia.