fficial ly ▁its ▁first ▁edition ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁under ▁the ▁guidance ▁of ▁the ▁initi ative ▁and ▁guidance ▁of ▁the ▁roman ian ▁actor ▁Constantin ▁Ch iri ac ▁and ▁with ▁the ▁support ▁of ▁various ▁other ▁actors ▁and ▁from ▁foreign ▁actors ▁and ▁acting ▁profess ors ▁from ▁the ater ▁schools . ▁Although ▁the ▁first ▁edition ▁of ▁the ▁festival ▁was ▁un prep ared ▁finan cially , ▁the ▁performances ▁of ▁the ▁guests ▁ens ured ▁the ▁festival ' s ▁continu ity . ▁ ▁The ▁first ▁official ▁edition ▁took ▁place ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁and ▁the ▁number ▁of ▁particip ating ▁countries ▁increased , ▁now ▁having ▁participants ▁from ▁ 8 ▁countries . ▁The ▁number ▁of ▁spect ators ▁also ▁increased . ▁ ▁The ▁year ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁marks ▁an ▁exception al ▁year ▁for ▁the ▁festival , ▁when ▁Sib iu ▁became ▁the ▁European ▁Capital ▁of ▁Culture ▁along ▁with ▁Luxemb ourg ▁City . ▁This ▁edition ▁brought ▁to ▁Sib iu ▁more ▁than ▁ 2 , 5 0 0 ▁guests ▁from ▁ 7 0 ▁countries . ▁ ▁From ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁the ▁festival ▁defined ▁its ▁m atur ity , ▁becoming ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁important ▁places ▁of ▁the ater ▁and ▁performing ▁arts ▁excell ence . ▁ ▁S log ans ▁ ▁From ▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁on ward , ▁each ▁edition ▁of ▁the ▁festival ▁is ▁held ▁under ▁a ▁s log an : ▁▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁- ▁Tol er ance ▁▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁- ▁Vi ol ence ▁▁ 1