Trieste Science+Fiction Festival
{{Short description|Italian cinematographic festival}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox Film Festival|name=Trieste Science+Fiction Festival|image=250px|caption=Trieste Science+Fiction Festival 2016|location=Trieste, Italy|founded=2000|host=La Cappella Underground|date=November|website={{URL|http://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",{{Cite news|url=http://screenanarchy.com/2012/12/the-trieste-sciencefiction-festival-kicks-off-tomorrow.html|title=The Trieste Science+Fiction Festival Kicks Off Tomorrow!|last=Brown|first=Todd|date=4 December 2012|newspaper=ScreenAnarchy|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-20}} while Dan Jolin lists it as one of the "14 captivating film festivals in Europe you won't want to miss".{{Cite news|url=http://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/culture/14-captivating-film-festivals-in-europe-you-won-t-want-to-miss-1-4975454|title=14 captivating film festivals in Europe you won't want to miss|last=Jolin|first=Dan|work=The New European|access-date=2017-05-08|language=en}}
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.{{Cite news|date=|title=1963 FIFF|newspaper=Trieste Science+Fiction – Festival della Fantascienza|url=https://www.sciencefictionfestival.org/archivio/the-science-fiction-festival/1963-fiff/?lang=en|access-date=2021-12-27}}{{Cite book|title=The Life of Kingsley Amis|last=Leader|first=Zachary|publisher=Vintage Books|year=2007|isbn=978-0099428428|location=London|pages=509}} 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,{{Cite book|title=Science fiction and fantasy literature: a checklist, 1700–1974: with Contemporary science fiction authors II|last=Reginald|first=Robert|publisher=Gale Research Co.|year=1979|volume=2: Contemporary Science Fiction Authors|location=Detroit|pages=789|oclc=4933768}} Umberto Eco (one of the 1963 Jury members) and Brian Aldiss, among others.{{Cite news|url=http://ricerca.gelocal.it/ilpiccolo/archivio/ilpiccolo/2013/07/07/PR_60_01.html|title="Trieste Science + Fiction" raccoglie i segnali lanciati dal primo festival 50 anni fa – Il Piccolo|newspaper=Archivio – Il Piccolo|language=it|trans-title="Trieste Science + Fiction" picks up the signals launched by the first festival 50 years ago – Il Piccolo Newspaper|access-date=2016-11-13}}
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.{{Cite news|date=|title=2002 Trieste Science+Fiction Festival|newspaper=Trieste Science+Fiction – Festival della Fantascienza|url=https://www.sciencefictionfestival.org/archivio/tsff-2002/?lang=en|access-date=2021-12-27}} Over the years the Award was bestowed to: Dario Argento (2003),{{Cite news|url=http://www.fantasymagazine.it/560/dario-argento-al-scienceplusfiction-di-trieste|title=Dario Argento al Scienceplusfiction di Trieste ∂ FantasyMagazine.it|newspaper=FantasyMagazine.it|language=it|trans-title=Dario Argento at Scienceplusfiction in Trieste ∂ FantasyMagazine.it|access-date=2016-11-13}} Jimmy Sangster (2004),{{Cite news|url=http://trovacinema.repubblica.it/news/dettaglio/a-jimmy-sangster-lurania-dargento-alla-carriera/282113/|title=A Jimmy Sangster l'Urania d'argento alla carriera|last=repubblica.it|newspaper=trovacinema.repubblica.it|language=it|trans-title=Silver Urania Career Award to Jimmy Sangster|access-date=2016-11-13}} Lamberto Bava (2005),{{Cite news|url=http://www.fantascienza.com/7098/urania-d-argento-a-lamberto-bava|title=Urania d'Argento a Lamberto Bava ∂ Fantascienza.com|newspaper=Fantascienza.com|language=it|trans-title=Silver Urania to Lamberto Bava ∂ Fantascienza.com|access-date=2016-11-13}} Enki Bilal and Terry Gilliam (2006),{{Cite news|url=http://www.fantascienza.com/8618/anche-terry-gilliam-a-trieste|title=Anche Terry Gilliam a Trieste ∂ Fantascienza.com|newspaper=Fantascienza.com|language=it|trans-title=Also Terry Gilliam in Trieste ∂ Fantascienza.com|access-date=2016-11-13}} Joe Dante (2007),{{Cite news|url=http://www.cinematografo.it/news/joe-dante-a-trieste/|title=Joe Dante a Trieste – Cinematografo|newspaper=Cinematografo|language=it-IT|trans-title=Joe Dante in Trieste – Cinematografo|access-date=2016-11-13}} Ray Harryhausen (2008, via videoconference from London),{{Cite news|url=http://messaggeroveneto.gelocal.it/udine/cronaca/2008/11/10/news/il-programma-del-festival-della-fantascienza-1.32196|title=Il programma del Festival della Fantascienza – Cronaca – Messaggero Veneto|date=10 November 2008|newspaper=Messaggero Veneto|language=it|trans-title=The program of the Science Fiction Festival – News Section – Messaggero Veneto|access-date=2016-11-13}} Roger Corman and Christopher Lee (2009),{{Cite news|url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/14939/science-fiction-festival-report-christopher-lee-on-modern-horror-movies/|title=Science+Fiction Festival Report: Christopher Lee on Modern Horror Movies – Dread Central|date=22 December 2009|newspaper=Dread Central|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-20}} George A. Romero (2011),{{Cite news|url=http://cinema.everyeye.it/notizie/george-romero-a-trieste-per-il-premio-urania-d-argento-110105.html|title=George Romero a Trieste per il premio Urania d'Argento|newspaper=Everyeye.it|language=it|trans-title=George Romero in Trieste for the Silver Urania Award|access-date=2016-11-13}} Alfredo Castelli (2012),{{Cite news|url=http://www.comicsblog.it/post/58413/a-sergio-bonelli-il-premio-la-lombardia-per-il-lavoro|title=A Sergio Bonelli il Premio La Lombardia per il Lavoro|newspaper=Comicsblog.it|language=it|trans-title=The Award "La Lombardia per il Lavoro" to Sergio Bonelli|access-date=2016-11-13}} Gabriele Salvatores (2013),{{Cite news|url=http://messaggeroveneto.gelocal.it/tempo-libero/2013/11/03/news/salvatores-vince-a-trieste-l-urania-d-argento-1.8049954|title=Salvatores vince a Trieste l'Urania d'argento – Tempo Libero – Messaggero Veneto|date=3 November 2013|newspaper=Messaggero Veneto|language=it|trans-title=Salvatores wins in Trieste the Silver Award – Free Time – Messaggero Veneto|access-date=2016-11-13}} Alejandro Jodorowsky (2014),{{Cite web|url=http://news.cinecitta.com/IT/it-it/news/53/13352/jodorowsky-a-trieste.aspx|title=Jodorowsky a Trieste|website=news.cinecitta.com|language=it|trans-title=Jodorowsky in Trieste|access-date=2016-11-13}} Bruce Sterling (2015),{{Cite news|url=http://ilpiccolo.gelocal.it/trieste/cronaca/2015/10/31/news/urania-d-argento-a-bruce-sterling-innovatore-della-fantascienza-1.12366109|title=Urania d'Argento a Bruce Sterling innovatore della fantascienza – Cronaca – Il Piccolo|date=31 October 2015|newspaper=Il Piccolo|language=it|trans-title=Silver Urania to Bruce Sterling, science fiction innovator – News Section – Il Piccolo|access-date=2016-11-13}} Rutger Hauer (2016),{{Cite news|url=http://screenanarchy.com/2016/10/trieste-sciencefiction-festival-to-open-with-morgan-rutger-hauer-to-receive-award.html|title=Trieste Science+Fiction Festival to Open with MORGAN, Rutger Hauer to Receive Award|last=Rowan-Legg|first=Shelagh|date=24 October 2016|newspaper=ScreenAnarchy|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-13}} Sergio Martino (2017),{{Cite web|url=https://news.cinecitta.com/IT/it-it/news/54/71505/sergio-martino-io-un-regista-trash-emerito.aspx|title=Sergio Martino: "Io, un regista trash emerito"|website=news.cinecitta.com|language=it|trans-title=Sergio Martino: 'I am a trash director emeritus'|access-date=2018-11-08}} and Douglas Trumbull (2018).{{Cite news|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2018/10/trieste-science-fiction-2018-jam-packed-lineup-includes-overlord-freaks-the-dark-a-healthy-focus-on.html|title=Trieste Science + Fiction 2018: Jam-Packed Lineup Includes OVERLORD, FREAKS, THE DARK, a Healthy Focus on Italian Cinema and Much More|date=2018-10-30|work=ScreenAnarchy|access-date=2018-11-08|language=en-US}} In 2019 the name of the Award was changed to Asteroide Lifetime Achievement Award and was bestowed to Phil Tippett.{{Cite web|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2019/10/trieste-2019-brian-yuzna-phil-tippett-in-person-to-watch-science-fiction-films-in-italy.html|title=Trieste 2019: Brian Yuzna, Phil Tippett in Person to Watch Science + Fiction Films in Italy|date=2019-10-31|website=ScreenAnarchy|access-date=2019-11-05}} and, in 2021, to Abel Ferrara.{{Cite web|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2021/10/abel-ferrera-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-award-at-trieste-sciencefiction-festival.html|title=Abel Ferrera To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Trieste Science+Fiction Festival|date=2021-10-26|website=ScreenAnarchy|access-date=2021-12-27}}
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.{{Cite news|date=|title=2004 Trieste Science+Fiction Festival|newspaper=Trieste Science+Fiction – Festival della Fantascienza|url=https://www.sciencefictionfestival.org/archivio/tsff-2004/?lang=en|access-date=2021-12-27}} 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,[http://www.melies.org European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation – The home of the Méliès d'Or] 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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.fantascienza.com/13156/science-fiction-09-a-first-squad-il-premio-asteroide-del-festival-della-fantascienza-di-trieste|title=Science+Fiction 09: a First Squad il premio Asteroide del festival della fantascienza di Trieste ∂ Fantascienza.com|newspaper=Fantascienza.com|language=it-IT|trans-title=Science+Fiction 09: to First Squad the Asteroid Award of Trieste Science Fiction Festival ∂ Fantascienza.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}
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;{{Cite news|date=2005-10-27|title=FESTIVAL INTERNAZIONALE DELLA FANTASCIENZA|language=it|trans-title=INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FICTION FESTIVAL|work=Sentieri Selvaggi|url=http://www.sentieriselvaggi.it/festival-internazionale-della-fantascienza/|access-date=2021-12-27}} Marx Attacks! (2007, 2009), a showcase of Russian and Eastern European productions;{{Cite web|url=http://oscilloscopioazzurro.blogspot.it/2009/11/marx-attacks-trieste.html|title=Marx Attacks! a Trieste|website=oscilloscopioazzurro.blogspot.it|date=20 November 2009 |language=it|trans-title=Marx Attacks! in Trieste|access-date=2016-11-13}} 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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.triesteprima.it/cronaca/trieste-science-fiction-2015-22-mila-presenze-vince-wyrmwood.html|title=Trieste Science+Fiction 2015, oltre 22 mila presenze: vince Wyrmwood|newspaper=TriestePrima|language=it|trans-title=Trieste Science+Fiction 2015, more than 22,000 spectators: Wyrmwood wins|access-date=2016-11-13}}
Awards
= Asteroide =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Director !Country |
| 2004
|United States |
| 2005
|James Bai |United States |
| 2006
|Manga |Peter Khazizov |Russia |
| 2007
|Timecrimes (Spanish: Los cronocrímenes){{Cite web|title=2007 Trieste Science+Fiction Festival|url=https://www.sciencefictionfestival.org/archivio/tsff-2007/?lang=en|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Trieste Science+Fiction Festival|language=en-US}} |Spain |
| 2008
|Before the Fall (Spanish: Tres días) |Spain |
| 2009
|First Squad: The Moment of Truth |Yoshiharu Ashino / Misha Shprits / Aljoscha Klimov |Japan / Russia / Canada |
| 2010
|Transfer |Damir Lukacevic |Germany |
| 2011
|United Kingdom |
| 2012
|Eron Sheean |Germany / United States |
| 2013
|United States |
| 2014
|United States |
| 2015
|Kiah Roache-Turner |Australia |
| 2016
|Claire Carré |United States / Poland |
| 2017
|Poland / Italy |
| 2018
|Zach Lipovsky / Adam B. Stein |Canada |
| 2019
|Pella Kågerman / Hugo Lilja |Sweden / Denmark |
| 2020
|Egor Abramenko |Russia |
| 2021
|Gaia |Jaco Bouwer |South Africa |
| 2022
|United States |
| 2023
|France |
| 2024
|Ukraine |
= Méliès d'argent – feature films =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Director !Country |
| 2009
|United Kingdom |
| 2010
|Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale |Finland |
| 2011
|L'arrivo di Wang |Manetti Bros. |Italy |
| 2012
|United Kingdom / Ireland |
| 2013
|The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears (French: L'étrange couleur des larmes de ton corps) |Hélène Cattet / Bruno Forzani |Belgium / France / Luxembourg |
| 2014
|Index Zero |Lorenzo Sportiello |Italy |
| 2015
|Polder |Samuel Schwarz / Julian M. Grunthal |Switzerland / Germany |
| 2016
|The Sum of Histories (Flemish: Terug Naar Morgen) |Lukas Bossuyt |Belgium |
| 2017
|Loop (Hungarian: Hurok) |Isti Madarász |Hungary |
| 2018
|Man Divided (Danish: QEDA) |Max Kestner |Denmark / Sweden / Finland |
| 2019
|Mike Ahern / Enda Loughman |Ireland / Belgium |
| 2020
|Austria / Germany |
| 2021
|Agata Alexander |United States / Poland |
| 2022
|LOLA |UK |
| 2023
|The Last Spark of Hope (Polish: W nich cała nadzieja) |Poland |
| 2024
|After Us, The Flood (Finnish: Jälkeemme vedenpaisumus) |Finland |
= Méliès d'argent – short films =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Director !Country |
| 2005
|Terra Incognita |Peter Volkart |Switzerland |
| 2006
|Final Journey |Ireland |
| 2007
|Absence |Kevin Lecomte |France |
| 2008
|Benni Diez / Marinko Spahic |Germany |
| 2009
|Virtual Dating |Katia Olivier |Belgium |
| 2010
|Daddy's Girl |Helen Komini Olsen |Norway |
| 2011
|Out of Erasers (Swedish: Sudd) |Erik Rosenlund |Sweden / Denmark |
| 2012
|Employé du mois |Olivier Beguin |Switzerland |
| 2013
|Happy B-Day |Holger B. Frick |Germany |
| 2014
|United Kingdom |
| 2015
|The Kármán Line |United Kingdom |
| 2016
|Getting Fat in a Healthy Way |Kevork Aslanyan |Bulgaria |
| 2017
|The Last Schnitzel |Kaan Arici / Ismet Kurtulus |Denmark |
| 2018
|Thunder From a Clear Sky (French: Orage par ciel clair) |Yohan Faure |France |
| 2019
|This Time Away |Magali Barbé |United Kingdom |
| 2020
|The Recycling Man |Carlo Ballauri |Italy |
| 2021
|The Exit Plan |Angus Wilkinson |Australia / United Kingdom |
| 2022
|Antonella Sabatino & Stefano Blasi |Italy |
| 2023
|Lavinia Tommasoli/Pietro Traversa |Italy |
| 2024
|France |
See also
= Other sci-fi film festivals =
References
{{Reflist}}
Content in this edit is translated from the existing Italian Wikipedia article at :it:Trieste Science+Fiction Festival; see its history for attribution.
External links
- [http://www.sciencefictionfestival.org sciencefictionfestival.org]
- [http://www.lacappellaunderground.org lacappellaunderground.org]
Category:Film festivals in Italy
Category:Film festivals established in 2000
Category:2000 establishments in Italy