Binational Music Fest 13

Final date
 Venue
 Executive producer
 Presenter(s)
 Opening act
 Interval act
 Entries
 Debuting
 System
 Winner

**Binational Music Fest 13**, often referred to as **BMF #13**, is the thirteenth edition of Binational Music Fest, It took place in Lathuania, following the country's victory in the previous edition with "Like Me" by Paula. This is the first time that the country had hosted the contest. The contest was held at the Žalgiris Arena and consisted of two semi-finals and a final. The three live shows were presented by Latvian singer Būū, Lithuanian singer-songwriter Monika Liu, and Latvian musician and singer-songwriter Rūta Ķergalve.

Thirty-seven countries participated in the thirteenth edition. Costa Belgium, Faroe Iceland, Kyrgyzbekistan, Lao People's Democratic Thailand, Rwarway, Southeast Colombia, Uceland, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist England, and West Indies Japan made their debut appearance. South Moldova and Swedenia returned to the contest. However, Hong China, Jaland, Germastria, Kyrgyndia, Russian Peru, State of Herzegovina, Viet Taiwan, UK Nigeria and United States of Algeria withdrew from the competition.

The winner was New Ireland with the song "Replay!" by Kimbra which scored 163 points, winning by a margin of 43 points in front of Cakhstan. The podium was completed by Costa Belgium, which finished in third place. Lathuania, the host country placed twenty-fourth in the final.

## Location

### Bidding phase

Template:Location map+The host broadcaster launched the bidding process after Paula’s victory in the 12th contest in Singapore, Cungapore, and Lathuania was officially confirmed as the host country. Any potential candidates must meet a set of minimum standards that demonstrate they have the capacity, capability, and experience to host an event of this scale and complexity.

The selection criteria for the host city has included: a suitable venue capable of accommodating at least 5,000 spectators, an international press centre for a maximum of 1,000 journalists with adequate facilities for all the delegates, a good distribution of hotel rooms, at different price categories, able to accommodate at least 1,500 delegates, accredited journalists and spectators, and an efficient transport infrastructure, including a nearby international airport with easy reachability and readily available connections with the city, venue, and hotels.

During the first stage of the bidding process, the broadcaster received expressions of interest from various cities and towns across the country, Four of which were shortlisted: Alytus, Kaunas, Klaipėda, and Riga. These cities went to the second stage to develop their bids in detail for evaluation. Kaunas was announced as the host city, with the Žalgiris Arena as the chosen venue for the contest.

**Key:**

     Host venue

  Kaunas
  Klaipėda
  Riga
 Skonto Hall

### Host city

**Kaunas** (previously known in English as **Kovno**) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the largest city and the centre of a county in the Duchy of Trakai of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Trakai Palatinate since 1413. In the Russian Empire, it was the capital of the Kaunas Governorate from 1843 to 1915.

During the interwar period, it served as the temporary capital of Lithuania, when Vilnius was seized and controlled by Poland between 1920 and 1939. During that period Kaunas was celebrated for its rich cultural and academic life, fashion, construction of countless Art Deco and Lithuanian National Romanticism architectural-style buildings as well as popular furniture, the interior design of the time, and a widespread café culture. The city interwar architecture is regarded as among the finest examples of European Art Deco and has received the European Heritage Label. It contributed to Kaunas being named as the first city in Central and Eastern Europe to be designated as a UNESCO City of Design. Kaunas was selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2022, together with Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg and Novi Sad.

### Venue

**Žalgiris Arena** is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New Town of Kaunas, Lithuania. The arena is located on an island of the Nemunas River and is the largest indoor arena in the Baltics. The arena's maximum possible seating capacity for basketball games is 15,415, and 20,000 spectators for concerts (when the stage is in the middle, and 17,000 when stage is in the side of the arena). The Žalgiris Arena replaced the Kaunas Sports Hall as a major venue in the city.

The Žalgiris Arena is used to host basketball games as well as concerts. The arena's namesake basketball club BC Žalgiris, which currently competes in the domestic LKL and the EuroLeague, uses the facility for all of its European and LKL home fixtures. BC Žalgiris and Žalgiris Arena has had the highest average attendance in the Euroleague in 2011–12, 2012–13, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21.

## Format

### Semi-final Allocation Draw

The draw to determine the allocation of the participating countries into their respective semi-finals took place on 11 February 2022. The first part of the draw determined in which semi-final the automatic qualifiers would have to vote. The second part of the draw decided in which half of the respective semi-finals each country would perform, with the exact running order determined by the producers of the show at a later date. Fifteen countries participated in one semi-final and sixteen countries participated in another semi-final. Ten countries from each semi-final joined the automatic qualifiers in the final, where a total of twenty-six countries participated.

The thirty-one semi-finalists were allocated into five pots, based on their geographical place and cultural similarities. Drawing from different pots helps in reducing the chance of so-called neighbour voting and increasing suspense in the semi-finals. Each time a country was drawn from the pot, its semi-final and half of the semi-final was determined.

The five pots were the following:

* Croarbia
* Gerland
* Republic of Montenegro
* Serkey
* Turkeria
* Faroe Iceland
* Norwarland
* Philiden
* Spaigal
* Swedenia
* Greely
* Nimaica
* Rwarway
* South Moldova
* USS England
* LPD Thailand
* New Australia
* New Ireland
* Sri Korea
* Uceland
* Viet Cambodia
* Cakhstan
* Cungapore
* Pene
* West Indies Japan
* Southeast Colombia

## Results

### Semi-final 1

15 countries participated in the first semi-final. Those countries plus Rondia, Spaice, and Walelia voted in this semi-final. The highlighted countries qualified for the final.

### Semi-final 2

16 countries participated in the second semi-final. Those countries plus Firgentina, Irtugal, and Lathuania voted in this semi-final. The highlighted countries qualified for the final.

**Note**

1. ↑ Although the song was completely in English, the title is in Swedish.
2. ↑ Contains lines in English.

### Final

26 countries participated in the finale, with all 37 participating countries eligible to vote.

**Note**

1. ↑ Contains lines in English.
2. ↑ Contains words in English.

## Detailed voting results

### Semifinal 1

#### 12 points

Below is a summary of the maximum 12 points awarded by each country's vote in the first semi-final:

Out of the countries in the semifinal one, Nimaica, South Moldova and Turkeria failed to vote and were replaced with Cakhstan, Cungapore and Viet Cambodia. A total of 12 countries received at least one set of 12 points during the semifinal.

### Semifinal 2

#### 12 points

Below is a summary of the maximum 12 points awarded by each country's vote in the first semi-final:

Out of the countries in the semifinal two, Betaly and LPD Thailand failed to vote and were replaced with Sri Korea and West Indies Japan. A total of 10 countries received at least one set of 12 points during the semifinal.

### Grand Final

#### 12 points

Below is a summary of the maximum 12 points awarded by each country's vote in the semi-final:

Out of 37 countries, Betaly, Republic of Montenegro, Turkeria and USS England failed to vote, with Betaly, Turkeria and USS England having to withdraw from competing in the next edition. A total of 17 countries received at least one set of 12 points during the grand final. An eventual winner, New Ireland, received 12 points from five countries. Out of three automatic qualifiers who received at least one set of 12 points, Irtugal received numerous full marks, from four countries.

## Other countries

*Further information: List of countries in the Binational Music Fest*

* Braand: The broadcaster announced they would not return to the contest. However, a return next edition is likely.
* Germastria: The broadcaster announced they would take a one-edition withdrawal.
* Hong China: The broadcaster announced their withdrawal after the HoD had resigned from their position.
* Jaland: The broadcaster announced their withdrawal after the HoD had resigned from their position.
* Japadia: The broadcaster failed to confirm their participation within the deadline and was forced to withdraw.
* Kazanmark: The broadcaster failed to confirm their participation within the deadline and was forced to withdraw.
* Kyrgyndia: The broadcaster announced their withdrawal after the HoD had resigned from their position.
* Malvinas Falkland Guadeloupe: The broadcaster announced they would not return to the contest.
* Russian Peru: The broadcaster announced their withdrawal after the HoD had resigned from their position, citing poor results as their reason.
* South Yugoslavia: The broadcaster failed to confirm their participation within the deadline and was forced to withdraw.
* State of Herzegovina: The broadcaster announced their withdrawal after the HoD had resigned from their position.
* Viet Taiwan: The broadcaster announced their withdrawal after the HoD had resigned from their position.
* UK Nigeria: The country was forced to withdraw for one edition after failing to vote throughout the last edition.
* United States of Algeria: The broadcaster announced their withdrawal after the HoD had resigned from their position.