Emmy Award-winning chef Lidia Bastianich delights the audience at Women’s Weekend: “Food always brings us back to what matters most – togetherness”

THE 4TH EDITION OF WOMEN’S WEEKEND OFFICIALLY OPENS

This weekend, Rijeka became the stage for some of the most important conversations about equality, health, leadership and social change. The fourth edition of Women’s Weekend was officially opened at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, a festival that gathers an increasing number of inspiring speakers, experts and visitors each year.

The festival was officially opened by festival director Nevena Rendeli Vejzović and Rijeka’s mayor Iva Rinčić, with the support of Petar Škarpa, Director of the Rijeka Tourist Board, Dr. Irena Peršić Živadinov, Director of the Kvarner Tourist Board, and Alessandra Ban, Head of the Administrative Department for Tourism, Entrepreneurship and Rural Development of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.

Representatives of local and regional institutions highlighted the importance of events such as Women’s Weekend for the development of the destination, but also for opening important social topics and encouraging meaningful dialogue.

“Women’s Weekend was created as a space where important topics can be discussed openly – work, money, family, successes and failures – without someone telling you to ‘calm down’ or that you’re ‘too emotional’. I’m especially happy to see the festival growing year after year, and this year we even had to open a third hall thanks to the loyal audience that keeps coming back,” said festival director Nevena Rendeli Vejzović.

Mayor of Rijeka Iva Rinčić emphasized that Rijeka is a natural place for conversations like these.

“Rijeka is a city of openness, courage and innovation, which is why it is only natural for an event like this to take place here. In just a few years, Women’s Weekend has become much more than a conference – it has become a space for dialogue, the exchange of ideas and a meeting place for people who want to change society.”

A special highlight for the audience was an intimate one-on-one conversation with Lidia Bastianich, the award-winning chef, author and television host and an Emmy Award winner.

During the talk Food is the language we all speak, moderated by Antonija Blaće, the audience followed Bastianich’s journey from Pula and Istria, through Trieste, all the way to the United States, where she built an impressive culinary career. She spoke about food as a space of identity and family, about recipes that preserve memories, but also about the persistence needed to build a career that lasts for decades.

Reflecting on her childhood in Istria, Bastianich highlighted how the aromas and flavours of rural life shaped her relationship with food.

“My childhood was filled with the aromas and flavours of life in the countryside, and those memories ultimately led me to cooking,” said Bastianich, adding that food always brings us back to the most essential things – gathering, conversation and togetherness.

After the conversation, the audience rewarded her with a long round of applause, while many approached her to take photos and share that they have followed her shows and recipes for years, creating a warm and almost family-like atmosphere in the hall.

Another discussion that drew great attention was the panel “Six – Seven”, powered by #boljionline, dedicated to Generation Z and digital overload.

The panel featured Jakov Jozinović, representing Generation Z, Iva Ančić from A1 Croatia, Dr. Hrvoje Handl, psychiatrist and psychotherapist, and Biljana Borzan, Member of the European Parliament, with Nevena Rendeli Vejzović as moderator.

Participants discussed the influence of algorithms, endless scrolling and digital trends on young generations, as well as the fine line between entertainment, addiction and digital fatigue.

“When children’s problems become our problems, we know we are already too late,” said Iva Ančić from A1 Croatia.

Dr. Handl also warned about the psychological consequences of excessive digital exposure.

“The internet is increasingly becoming a kind of third parent, as algorithms strongly influence emotions, behaviour and the way young people perceive the world.”

The panel concluded on a light-hearted note when Jakov Jozinović spontaneously sang the chorus of his hit song “Ja volim”, with the entire audience soon joining him in song. Jokingly, he remarked that “this was better than any arena”, which the audience rewarded with loud applause.

One of the most entertaining yet highly educational discussions was the panel “Sweat, Tears and Hormones – Menopause Without Panic or Taboo”, powered by Croatia Poliklinika.

In the conversation moderated by Mario Lipovšek Battifiaca, Dr. Davorka Herman Mahečič, actress Daria Lorenzi Flatz, and Dr. Milena Gašparović Krpina demonstrated the importance of openly discussing topics that have long been pushed to the margins.

The audience was particularly amused when the moderator put on the MenoVest™, a vest designed to simulate menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes. Laughter filled the room as Battifiaca admitted that he could now at least partially understand what women experience.

“I think every man should wear this for at least one day to understand what women go through,” Battifiaca said, prompting applause from the audience.

The topic of conscious and stable leadership was the focus of the panel S(p)retno Leading (Yourself and Others), featuring Maja Crnjak (Erste Bank Croatia), Tina Turk Lupieri (Maistra Hospitality Group), Blaž Ferenc (A1 Croatia and A1 Slovenia) and Gea Kariž (Mastercard Croatia), moderated by Iva Biondić from Management Centre Europe.

The speakers discussed the challenges of leading teams in an environment that requires quick decisions, constant adaptation and, at the same time, genuine care for people.

“In a small team, when one person is missing, it feels as if you’re missing a hand. That’s why it’s crucial to know what is truly urgent and important,” said Gea Kariž.

An important educational dimension of the festival was brought by the workshop Powered by Libresse: Menstruation – A Normal Thing, where Dr. Petra Kejla, specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics, and Iva Stefanovski Horvatić, Libresse brand representative, spoke with elementary school students about their first menstruation.

In a simple and approachable way, they explained to both girls and boys the changes that come with growing up, emphasizing the importance of open conversation and understanding.

On Saturday, visitors can expect more powerful discussions – from conversations about sex from a male perspective and the impact of artificial intelligence on business decisions to panels addressing addiction, shame, femicide and the responsibility of the media.

Women’s Weekend once again confirms its role as a platform where ideas, experiences and people come together to openly discuss the issues shaping our society. Because it is often through such conversations that ideas and changes are born – ones that last long beyond the festival stage.

More information about the program and tickets is available on the official festival website, the latest updates can be followed on social media – Instagramu, Facebooku, TikToku and LinkedInu.