In 1926 Hugo Gernsback founded in the United States the first magazine completely dedicated to science fiction literature, “Amazing Stories”, thus establishing the existence of a genre which the authors already knew very well but which still didn’t have a name.
In 1976 the International Science Fiction Film Festival in Trieste remembered the 50th anniversary of this event with an exhibition dedicated to pulp magazines at the Castle of San Giusto.
In that same year, the retrospective Fant’Italia, organized by La Cappella Underground, ventured – for the first time in a systematic manner – into the research of the Italian fantastic, among lost celluloids and repertoire films, widely anticipating the more recent secret stories of our cinema, which have caused its rediscovery and revaluation on a global scale.
This is where the 16th edition of the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival starts from. In the DNA of the event there is always the good old Science Fiction Festival, but in the algorithm that animates us in the cockpit there is above all the spirit of research at 360 degrees, to bring on stage the best and the most recent independent sci-fi productions coming from all the corners of planet Earth. This is also the reason why in this 16th edition the cinéphiles will benefit of one extra day of program.
But the Festival broadens its range of action especially in a multidisciplinary direction, if in the age of crossover this term can still be used. More music, with the ultra sounds “made in FVG” of the opening concert of TARM and of those by DJ Yoda during the Invasion of the Body Snatchers Night.
More comics, with the o cial image signed by Davide Toffolo and the exhibition of Nathan Never in the 25th anniversary of the most popular science fiction series in Italy. More video games, with the vintage video game space Play It Again. More animation and stop motion, with two dedicated labs. More attention to the industry dimension and to training, with the first Fantastic Film Forum open to the professionals of the sector. More science, with the Futurology Meetings in collaboration with the most prestigious scientific institutions of our territory and Future Environment screenings. More attention to the younger audience, with a greater number of initiatives dedicated to schools and teenagers. More of Trieste, with Esterno/Giorno walks through the movie scene locations in town. More dramatics, with an exceptional guest star and Urania Life Achievement award who has seen things you people wouldn’t believe…
It is no chance that in our vision between science and fiction there is a plus!
And so, quoting a song particularly in tune with the image of this edition of the Festival: “Come one, come all. The incredible spetaculo de la vida, the incredible spetaculo de la muerte!”. And we’d like to add: “the incredible show of scientia, the incredible show of fantasia!”
