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Trieste Science+Fiction Festival

Trieste Science+Fiction Festival 2016
Location	Trieste, Italy
Founded	2000
Most recent	2021
Hosted by	La Cappella Underground
Festival date	November
Website	www.sciencefictionfestival.org

Trieste Science+Fiction Festival was founded in 2000 under the name of Science plus Fiction by the Research and Experimentation Centre La Cappella Underground with the ambitious purpose of re-launching the Festival Internazionale del film di fantascienza (International Science Fiction Film Festival), which had been held in the northern Italian city of Trieste in the years 1963–1982.

It is a multidisciplinary event devoted to the realms of the "fantastic", to experimental languages and new technologies in cinema, television and the visual arts. With a program rich in screenings, retrospectives, tributes, conferences and meetings with renowned international and national professionals, it aims to explore the whole range of the science fiction world, from cinema to comics, from literature to stage performances.

Todd Brown describes it as "not just one of the world's leading science fiction festivals", but "one of the finest genre events in the world regardless of the genre in question", while Dan Jolin lists it as one of the "14 captivating film festivals in Europe you won't want to miss".

Trieste Science+Fiction Festival annually awards the Asteroide to the best international feature film in competition. Moreover, in cooperation with the Méliès International Festivals Federation – that the festival joined in 2005 – it awards the Méliès d'argent (Silver Méliès) to the best European feature and short films in competition.

History

In 1963 a group of "young visual poetry artists" – as they were called by Italian poet Giuseppe Ungaretti in a greeting telegram still in the archives of La Cappella Underground – founded the Festival Internazionale del Film di Fantascienza (International Science Fiction Film Festival), a revolutionary event that brought a whole bunch of renowned international stars to the city of Trieste. In those years, the festival saw the participation of Arthur C. Clarke, Roger Corman – whose X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes was awarded the Astronave d'argento (Silver Spacecraft) in 1963 -, Riccardo Freda, Forrest J. Ackerman, Umberto Eco (one of the 1963 Jury members) and Brian Aldiss, among others. In the following years, the event would turn the city of Trieste into a unique stage for genre films, until 1982, when it abruptly came to an end.

In the year 2000, La Cappella Underground decided to pick up the tradition of the festival, presenting to the audience independent film productions, premières and rarities in a new event called Science plus Fiction.

In 2002, in cooperation with Arnoldo Mondadori, editor of the sci-fi and fantasy magazine Urania, the Urania d'Argento (Silver Urania) Career Achievement Award was created. The first Silver Urania Award went to Italian director Pupi Avati. Over the years the Award was bestowed to: Dario Argento (2003), Jimmy Sangster (2004), Lamberto Bava (2005), Enki Bilal and Terry Gilliam (2006), Joe Dante (2007), Ray Harryhausen (2008, via videoconference from London), Roger Corman and Christopher Lee (2009), George A. Romero (2011), Alfredo Castelli (2012), Gabriele Salvatores (2013), Alejandro Jodorowsky (2014), Bruce Sterling (2015), Rutger Hauer (2016), Sergio Martino (2017), and Douglas Trumbull (2018). In 2019 the name of the Award was changed to Asteroide Lifetime Achievement Award and was bestowed to Phil Tippett. and, in 2021, to Abel Ferrara.

In 2004 the Festival picked up a new challenge by restoring the forgotten icon of the event that inspired it: the Asteroide Award, historical prize of the Festival internazionale del film di fantascienza di Trieste. In those years the award to the best film in competition was called Asteroide d'Oro (Golden Asteroid) and it was designed and crafted every year by a different artist (e.g., Nino Perizi and Marcello Mascherini), whose fame and talent was as exceptional as that of the sci-fi films and celebrities taking part in the Festival.

In 2005 Science plus Fiction became part of the Méliès International Festivals Federation, a network including all the main events in the field and aiming at the promotion of the European genre production on a big scale.

In 2007 the festival updated its name to Science+Fiction (now Trieste Science+Fiction Festival) and has since then been characterized by an increasing range of events, not only including film screenings, but also side events related to science fiction (round tables, scientific conferences, concerts and stage performances, art exhibitions and literary events).

In 2009 Trieste Science+Fiction Festival launched the Méliès competition for feature films in addition to the competition of the same name reserved to short films.

The film schedule has always included a wide range of proposals bound to attract both fans and newcomers to the science fiction, horror and fantasy genres. Over the years new sections have been added and as of 2019, besides the official section "Neon" that includes the latest releases and film premières in and out of competition, the Festival presents classic films, short films in and out of competition ("European Fantastic Shorts" and "Fantastic Shorts" sections), "Spazio Italia", a showcase of science fiction and fantasy Italian productions, and science (fiction) documentary films with follow-up meetings ("Futurologia" section). Among the many retrospectives organized by the Festival: Brit Invaders! (2003–2005), on British science fiction from the 1960s to the present day; Marx Attacks! (2007, 2009), a showcase of Russian and Eastern European productions; FantaEspaña (2002), a focus on Spanish science fiction films, curated by Carlos Aguilar; Voyage Fantastique (2006–2008), a journey into French science fiction, in collaboration with the Institut Français in Milan and the Embassy of France in Italy; Fant'America (2009) a tribute to Edgar Allan Poe, two hundred years from his birth.

The event reaches a grand total of more than 20,000 spectators per year.

Awards

Asteroide

Méliès d'argent – feature films

Méliès d'argent – short films

See also

• Science fiction film

References

1. Brown, Todd (4 December 2012). "The Trieste Science+Fiction Festival Kicks Off Tomorrow!". ScreenAnarchy. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
2. Jolin, Dan. "14 captivating film festivals in Europe you won't want to miss". The New European. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
3. "1963 FIFF". Trieste Science+Fiction – Festival della Fantascienza. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
4. Leader, Zachary (2007). The Life of Kingsley Amis. London: Vintage Books. p. 509. ISBN 978-0099428428.
5. Reginald, Robert (1979). Science fiction and fantasy literature: a checklist, 1700–1974: with Contemporary science fiction authors II. Vol. 2: Contemporary Science Fiction Authors. Detroit: Gale Research Co. p. 789. OCLC 4933768.
6. ""Trieste Science + Fiction" raccoglie i segnali lanciati dal primo festival 50 anni fa – Il Piccolo" ["Trieste Science + Fiction" picks up the signals launched by the first festival 50 years ago – Il Piccolo Newspaper]. Archivio – Il Piccolo (in Italian). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
7. "2002 Trieste Science+Fiction Festival". Trieste Science+Fiction – Festival della Fantascienza. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
8. "Dario Argento al Scienceplusfiction di Trieste ∂ FantasyMagazine.it" [Dario Argento at Scienceplusfiction in Trieste ∂ FantasyMagazine.it]. FantasyMagazine.it (in Italian). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
9. repubblica.it. "A Jimmy Sangster l'Urania d'argento alla carriera" [Silver Urania Career Award to Jimmy Sangster]. trovacinema.repubblica.it (in Italian). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
10. "Urania d'Argento a Lamberto Bava ∂ Fantascienza.com" [Silver Urania to Lamberto Bava ∂ Fantascienza.com]. Fantascienza.com (in Italian). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
11. "Anche Terry Gilliam a Trieste ∂ Fantascienza.com" [Also Terry Gilliam in Trieste ∂ Fantascienza.com]. Fantascienza.com (in Italian). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
12. "Joe Dante a Trieste – Cinematografo" [Joe Dante in Trieste – Cinematografo]. Cinematografo (in Italian). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
13. "Il programma del Festival della Fantascienza – Cronaca – Messaggero Veneto" [The program of the Science Fiction Festival – News Section – Messaggero Veneto]. Messaggero Veneto (in Italian). 10 November 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
14. "Science+Fiction Festival Report: Christopher Lee on Modern Horror Movies – Dread Central". Dread Central. 22 December 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
15. "George Romero a Trieste per il premio Urania d'Argento" [George Romero in Trieste for the Silver Urania Award]. Everyeye.it (in Italian). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
16. "A Sergio Bonelli il Premio La Lombardia per il Lavoro" [The Award "La Lombardia per il Lavoro" to Sergio Bonelli]. Comicsblog.it (in Italian). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
17. "Salvatores vince a Trieste l'Urania d'argento – Tempo Libero – Messaggero Veneto" [Salvatores wins in Trieste the Silver Award – Free Time – Messaggero Veneto]. Messaggero Veneto (in Italian). 3 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
18. "Jodorowsky a Trieste" [Jodorowsky in Trieste]. news.cinecitta.com (in Italian). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
19. "Urania d'Argento a Bruce Sterling innovatore della fantascienza – Cronaca – Il Piccolo" [Silver Urania to Bruce Sterling, science fiction innovator – News Section – Il Piccolo]. Il Piccolo (in Italian). 31 October 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
20. Rowan-Legg, Shelagh (24 October 2016). "Trieste Science+Fiction Festival to Open with MORGAN, Rutger Hauer to Receive Award". ScreenAnarchy. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
21. "Sergio Martino: "Io, un regista trash emerito"" [Sergio Martino: 'I am a trash director emeritus']. news.cinecitta.com (in Italian). Retrieved 8 November 2018.
22. "Trieste Science + Fiction 2018: Jam-Packed Lineup Includes OVERLORD, FREAKS, THE DARK, a Healthy Focus on Italian Cinema and Much More". ScreenAnarchy. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
23. "Trieste 2019: Brian Yuzna, Phil Tippett in Person to Watch Science + Fiction Films in Italy". ScreenAnarchy. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
24. "Abel Ferrera To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Trieste Science+Fiction Festival". ScreenAnarchy. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
25. "2004 Trieste Science+Fiction Festival". Trieste Science+Fiction – Festival della Fantascienza. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
26. European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation – The home of the Méliès d'Or
27. "Science+Fiction 09: a First Squad il premio Asteroide del festival della fantascienza di Trieste ∂ Fantascienza.com" [Science+Fiction 09: to First Squad the Asteroid Award of Trieste Science Fiction Festival ∂ Fantascienza.com]. Fantascienza.com (in Italian). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
28. "FESTIVAL INTERNAZIONALE DELLA FANTASCIENZA" [INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FICTION FESTIVAL]. Sentieri Selvaggi (in Italian). 27 October 2005. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
29. "Marx Attacks! a Trieste" [Marx Attacks! in Trieste]. oscilloscopioazzurro.blogspot.it (in Italian). 20 November 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
30. "Trieste Science+Fiction 2015, oltre 22 mila presenze: vince Wyrmwood" [Trieste Science+Fiction 2015, more than 22,000 spectators: Wyrmwood wins]. TriestePrima (in Italian). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
31. "2007 Trieste Science+Fiction Festival". Trieste Science+Fiction Festival. Retrieved 27 December 2021.

Content in this edit is translated from the existing Italian Misplaced Pages article at it:Trieste Science+Fiction Festival; see its history for attribution.

External links

• sciencefictionfestival.org
• lacappellaunderground.org

• Film festivals in Italy
• Film festivals established in 2000
• 2000 establishments in Italy
• Culture in Trieste
• Science fiction film festivals