MEET THE FOURTH NEW FACES GENERATION – NEW FACES IN THE FOCUS OF THE REGIONAL MUSIC INDUSTRY

The Kontakt conference, showcase and festival, as part of the NEW FACES initiative, proudly presents the fourth generation of young talents from the music industry, selected each year through a regional open call.
In addition to Kontakt, the initiative includes partner showcase festivals from Croatia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria: Ship, MENT, Pin Showcase Festival, and SoAlive Festival.

This year as well, the New Faces generation consists of ten professionals under the age of 30 from the mentioned countries.

A record number of applications was received for this year’s New Faces open call – more than 140! Ten were selected based on their local impact, drive and potential, to shape the future of the music industry in our region. The number of applications continues to grow year after year, reflecting strong interest among young people to work in the music sector, as well as increasing recognition of the importance of professional networking and international collaboration for long-term career development.

“The continuous growth in applications confirms the relevance of the NEW FACES program and its role in supporting new generation of leaders in the music industry,” emphasize the project partners: MENT Ljubljana (Slovenia), Kontakt Conference, Showcase and Festival (Serbia), Ship (Croatia), PIN Music Conference (North Macedonia), and SoAlive Music Conference and Festival (Bulgaria).

Who is the NEW FACES class of 2026?

Among the professionals marking the fourth New Faces generation are music journalists, bookers, managers, and festival organizers who are already active in their local communities. All of them will participate in specialized workshops and networking sessions designed to turn regional connections into global opportunities.

At its core, NEW FACES focuses on professional networking – facilitating intergenerational exchange, providing direct access to leading showcase festivals and conferences, and building long-term relationships essential for a sustainable career in music.

Like previous generations, the fourth NEW FACES generation will receive PRO passes for partner showcase festivals, granting access to all concerts, conference programs, and delegate databases to encourage and ultimately realize meaningful international exchange.

When we say New Faces 2026, we mean them! They are: Ana Konstantinović and Boško Strugar from Serbia; Veronika Černe and Jan Robek from Slovenia; Dona Ilijevska and Luka Toshev from North Macedonia; David Mandić and Matea Božić from Croatia; and Zhelyazko Ganchev and Georgi Kazasov from Bulgaria.

Ana Konstantinović (Liveurope, Long Play, Serbia)

Ana is a cultural manager and producer working in the field of music, festivals and contemporary culture. She has been involved in leading projects and organizations including Liveurope, Arsenal Fest, Sarajevo Film Festival, Paris Olympics and Long Play concert agency, collaborating with international artists such as Manu Chao, Steve Vai, Nouvelle Vague and Circa Waves.
In addition to festival production and artist coordination, Ana develops showcase concepts, accompanying programs and other creative formats. She also hosts a radio show dedicated to alternative scenes and subcultures. When she’s not working on new projects, you can find her exploring hidden spaces or watching old movies.

Boško Strugar (KST, Serbia)

Boško is an editor of music and cultural programs, producer and event organizer with a strong focus on concert production and club programming. As a member of the management team and program editor at the Club of the Technical Faculties (KST), he actively shapes seasonal concepts, curates music and cultural events, and leads multidisciplinary teams across production, technical, design, PR, and multimedia departments. He has organized numerous club nights and concerts featuring local, regional and international artists. His creative practice also includes DJing and program selecetion. 

Veronika Černe (Radio Študent, Slovenia)

Veronika Černe is a sound engineer, event organizer and music journalist. She is active on the alternative electronic music scene as a DJ and producer under the alias Raketa. Radio Študent was her starting point, where she began as a sound engineer and music journalist before taking on additional organizational roles. She currently heads the Tresk Festival (Radio Študent), hosts the Vibe Check show and creator of the Ghetto Babes event series (Gala Hala), focused on ghetto-tech music, highlighting FLINTA artists and fostering safer club spaces. She also works as an in-house sound engineer at Channel Zero, Gala Hala, Gromka, and Klub K4 / Zorica. Her long-term goal is to combine her work in the music industry with formal education in social sciences through DJing, sound engineering and radio workshops.

Jan Robek (Kapa Records, KREH, Slovenia)

Jan is a musician, booker, concert organizer, promoter and label associate. Nine years ago, he began organizing events for the local skate collective LYC, including concerts and DJ performances. Four years ago, he started working for the underground label Kapa Records, overseeing the release of nine albums and two Balkan tours for the bands Auto and Čao Portorož. He later expanded into booking, organization and promotion for both Gala Hala and his own platform, KREH. Through KREH, he collaborates with art spaces in the renowned Metelkova district in Ljubljana, as well as with local artists, organizers and designers. In 2024 and 2025 he worked as a stage manager at the MENT Ljubljana festival. He also plays in the band Mal pre mal.

Dona Ilijevska (Gola Planina, Mrtov Konj, North Macedonia)

Dona is a young creative force working as a graphic designer, booker and manager for the Naked Mountain (Gola Planina) collective, as well as for the Dead Horse (Mrtov Konj) label. She focuses on positioning underground music while supporting the growth of North Macedonia’s emerging independent music and arts scene. She currently works as a booker and manager for local bands such as Mallard and Kaliko and has helped shape events across North Macedonia, as well as in clubs, events, and festivals throughout the Balkans.

Luka Toshev (Dina Jashari, Studio Ilinden 3, North Macedonia)

Luka is a musician, sound enthusiast and creative with a strong affinity for theatre, live performance and behind-the-scenes work. He works in booking, tour organization and public relations. He is currently tour manager, booker and PR for Dina Jashari, with whom he also regularly performs. He has experience organizing events through his work at MKC Skopje, the CinEdays festival and various concerts in North Macedonia’s capital. He is also active as a theatre music composer and sound designer. Luka is the founder of Studio Ilinden 3 and Grainy Scrapbook and is a member of the Dope Kukjata collective.

David Mandić (Radio Tvornica, Croatia)

David holds a Master’s degree in Communication Studies, Media, and Journalism. He has gained experience in print and digital media, including Jutarnji list, 24sata and Glazba.hr. He is an editor and radio host at Radio Tvornica, shaping the station’s program and musical identity through the show Večernji pogon. He is also the creator and host of Scenica!, a platform dedicated to promoting local and regional independent music. Scenica! is an innovative multimedia concept connecting radio broadcasting with live performances at Tvornica kulture. David is a member of the Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) and a juror for the Rock&Off award. He is  former participant of the Rock&Off School of Music Journalism.

Matea Božić (yem., Croatia)

Matea is a communications and media specialist focused on music, concerts and contemporary culture. With a background in photography, video production and journalism, she improved her storytelling skills producing and writing TV segments for Croatian National Television (HRT4), covering music, visual arts, theatre and the broader creative scene. She currently works in marketing and PR at yem., managing campaigns for artists, record labels and major festivals including Zagreb Beer Fest, Pine Fest, and Beat na moru. Matea works closely with artists and creative teams, connecting visual expression, digital platforms and strategy to build authentic narratives.

Zhelyazko Ganchev (Zvuk I Kartina / BubbleGum Records, Samodiva Society, Bulgaria)

Zhelyazko is an independent music professional based in Sofia, working in artist development and concert organization. He is part of the team at Zvuk and Kartina / BubbleGum Records, an independent music label. He also collaborates with Samodiva Society, an NGO supporting independent artists, focusing on artist development, project coordination, campaign planning and daily operations. He has extensive experience in high-pressure festival environments, including venue and stage management, backstage coordination, task delegation, and on-site problem-solving to ensure teams remain aligned and programs run smoothly.

Georgi Kazasov (Smiles Music, Caravan Party, Bulgaria)

Georgi is an event coordinator and music professional working within the family-run company Smiles Music. For more than a decade he has played a key role in developing the Caravan Party festival in Ahtopol, hosting leading Bulgarian artists while consistently supporting emerging talent. He also produced a year-long summer festival featuring artists Incognito and AKAGA and managed two national tours for Orlin Goranov. Trained in opera, he also holds a degree in Music Business and Management from BIMM College in London. His goal is to expand Smiles Music’s activities and position Bulgaria as a global destination for international music events.