Trieste Science+Fiction Festival is a multidisciplinary event devoted to the exploration of the realms of the 'fantastic' genre, and the use of new technologies and experimental languages in film, television and visual arts. The main purpose of Trieste Science+Fiction Festival is to present and promote, in Italy and in its neighboring countries, 'fantastic' productions from all over the world, focusing particularly on science fiction and fantasy cinematographic and audio-visual works.

Trieste Science+Fiction Festival is organized by the Italian film center La Cappella Underground. The Festival is supported by: Ministry for the Cultural Heritage - DGC, Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Municipality of Trieste, University of Trieste. Since 2005 Trieste Science+Fiction Festival has been a member of the M.I.F.F. – Méliès International Festivals Federation.

The Festival features the following competitive sections:
• Asteroid Award - competition for best international science-fiction and fantasy feature-length film;
• Méliès d’argent Award - competition for best European feature-length and short film from the fantastic genre;

and the following non-competitive sections:
• Spazio Italia – selection of Italian productions from the fantastic genre open to both feature-lenght films and short films (Spazio Corto);
• Fantastic Shorts – selection of international short films from the fantastic genre;
• Mondofuturo – selection of international science(-fiction) documentaries, public meetings and lectures.
• Education Program – selection of international feature-length and short films from the fantastic genre. Programmes are targeted according to audience’s age, from 3 years old on. The section features educational activities and workshops open to students of schools and universities, educators and families.
• Artificial Universe – selection of short films incorporating Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) tools.
• premières and special events;
• retrospectives and special programs.
The Selection Committee of the Festival selects and invites the films, and assigns them to the competitive and non-competitive sections of the Festival.

PLEASE NOTE THAT FILMS THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE FESTIVAL'S REGULATIONS (INCLUDING THE GENRE SPECIFICATIONS) OR THAT HAVE BEEN ALREADY SUBMITTED IN THE PAST YEARS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

Regulations 2024 extract (full text available on the Festival's website):

Art. 4 Competition for best international science-fiction and fantasy feature-length film – Asteroid award The International Competition is restricted to feature-length films (running time: 70 minutes min.), completed in the 18 months prior to the Festival, shot in any format, and classified as science fiction and fantasy genres in their broadest sense. The competition is only for first, second or third feature-length films by emerging directors; the films must not have been released in Italy yet. The Board of the Festival shall appoint an International Jury of at least three movie professionals with the task of conferring the Asteroid Award to the best film.
The film awarded the Asteroid Award shall include the mention of the award in all promotional materials and in all forms of distribution (theatrical, home video and VOD), in accordance with the official graphic design provided by the Festival.

Art. 5 Competition for best European feature-length film from the fantastic genre - Méliès d’argent award The Méliès d’argent competition is organized in collaboration with the Méliès International Festivals Federation, and is restricted to recently produced European feature-length films (running time: 59 minutes min.) from the fantastic genre in its broadest sense. All films must be qualified as a European Production, according to the rules of the M.I.F.F. 1 . The final selection features at least six films; the films must not have been released in Italy yet. The Board of the Festival shall appoint a Jury of movie professionals with the task of awarding the Méliès d’argent to one of the films in competition. The same film may be selected at various M.I.F.F. festivals. A film that has won an award at one of the festivals of the Federation, however, cannot be screened in competition at the ensuing member festivals. The films awarded a Méliès d’argent participate in the yearly competition for the Méliès d’or (www.melies.org).
The film awarded the Méliès d’argent shall include the mention of the award in all promotional materials and in all forms of distribution (theatrical, home video and VOD), in accordance with the official graphic design provided by the Festival.
Art. 6 Competition for best European short film from the fantastic genre – Méliès d’argent award Admission to the Méliès d’argent award is restricted to short films (running time: 25 minutes max.), completed in the 18 months before the Festival, shot in any format, classified as science-fiction and fantasy genres in their broadest sense. All films must be qualified as a European Production, according to the rules of the M.I.F.F. 1 . The final selection features at least ten films; the films must not have been released in Italy yet. The Méliès d’argent will be awarded to the short film that gets the highest marks by the Festival's audience. The same film may be selected at various M.I.F.F.
festivals. A film that has won an award at one of the festivals of the Federation, however, cannot be screened in competition at the ensuing member festivals. The films awarded a Méliès d’argent participate in the yearly competition for the Méliès d’or (www.melies.org).
The film awarded the Méliès d’argent shall include the mention of the award in all promotional materials and in all forms of distribution (theatrical, home video and VOD), in accordance with the official graphic design provided by the Festival.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Stewart Sparke

    Trieste is a great film festival for genre films ranging from sci-fi to horror and screens films from around the world. They we're kind enough to accept my feature film How to Kill Monsters for their 2023 edition which played in the midnight slot to a fantastic audience. I wasn't able to attend myself due to other commitments but the festival offered to pay for our hotel accommodation if we were able to come which was very nice. I would highly recommend this festival to any genre filmmakers!

    November 2023
  • E' stato un onore essere candidati a questo festival assieme a dei corti di un livello altissimo! L'intero programma del festival era ricchissimo di film magnifici, di presentazioni di libri collegati al cinema, di persone interessanti e appassionate. Davvero un evento imperdibile per chi ama il cinema! E le persone che ci lavorano sono una super squadra di professionisti, sono stati due giorni a Trieste magnifici e vi ringrazieremo a oltranza

    November 2023
  • Rebekah Louisa Smith

    A wonderful festival - wonderfully organised brilliant communication and thank you for looking after my clients and awarding FLITE your grand prize!

    November 2023
  • Non abbiamo potuto essere presenti ma abbiamo percepito il calore e l'atmosfera del festival anche a distanza e tramite chi ci ha rappresentato e i social. Magico, speciale, sicuramente uno dei migliori in Italia e il numero 1° per quanto riguarda il cinema di genere in Italia (e tra i migliori d'Europa). Staff gentilissimo, preparatissimo e caloroso e il pubblico triestino è sempre molto affettuoso. Grazie ancora di tutto, speriamo ci sia ancora occasione, e stavolta di essere lì con voi nella splendida Trieste!

    November 2022
  • Joe Zalias

    Absolutely fantastic festival. My favourite so far.

    November 2022