Located in northeastern Italy, near the borders of Slovenia and Croatia, Trieste is a beautiful town that celebrates all forms of art. The annual Science+Fiction Festival brings together various strands of genre entertainment. Films, video games, books, and much more are celebrated over six days with plenty for fans and scholars to get their teeth into.
Once again, screenings and events took place in various locations throughout the town. The stunning Politeama Rossetti hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as numerous major films. Just a short walk (or ride, thanks to the fabulous Italian bus service) away is Teatro Miela and the Sci-Fi Dome, which hosted talks, interviews, and other events.
The event opened in fine style with a hilarious skit in which aliens abduct artistic director Alan Jones and, as he tried to escape, he was zapped into several other places before appearing to rapturous applause on the stage. We can report that Alan’s acting was actually rather good!
As part of the Méliès International Festivals Federation, a significant aspect of the festival is the awards. Selected by a group of expert judges and the event attendees, they highlight the best of the movies and shorts screened. One member of the jury told us that it was like 12 Angry Men behind the scenes as the group fought for their choices.
The Asteroid Prize, which honours the best sci-fi, horror, and fantasy films, is reserved for emerging directors with their first, second, or third film. The jury – comprised of director Gabriele Mainetti (Freaks Out), producer and Film4 co-creator Julia Wrigley, and festival programmer for Francine, the Fantastic Film Festival of Málaga, Rocio Moreno – awarded the honour to Kevin McManus and Matthew McManus’ Redux Redux. Having already won fans at 2025’s FrightFest, the movie impressed the jury with its bold fusion of science fiction and emotion. The honorary Special Mention Asteroid Award was given to the stunning animated film Arco, directed by Ugo Bienvenu.
The Méliès d’Argent Award jury was made up of British distributor Martin Myers, film critic and writer Ann Billson, and Mark Moore, musician, DJ, and frontman of the band S’Express. They awarded the Silver Méliès Award to Jan Kounen’s L’Homme qui rétrécit (The Shrinking Man), which brings Richard Matheson’s classic 1956 novel to a new generation. The fans were polled for the short film Silver Méliès, and they chose Marius Rolfsvåg’s Animalia, a Norwegian entry set in the future where the world has been reclaimed by nature, with humans having evolved into animals. The only untouched community is hidden away in an airtight city.
The audience award, also voted for by those in attendance, went to Arco. There was also an award presented by the festival’s media partner Rai Cultura. The Wonderland Award is presented to the best overall movie of the event. They chose Redux Redux, making it a double celebration for the MacManus brothers’ impressive time travel thriller. The SNCCI Critics’ Award was voted for by three members of the National Union of Italian Film Critics, Martina Barone, Andrea Chimento, and Sara D’Ascenzo. They chose the Australian animated sci-fi comedy Lesbian Space Princess. The story has a shy princess attempting to rescue her ex-girlfriend from the Straight White Maliens. The fun romp has already won over audiences worldwide, and the win will undoubtedly enhance its reputation.
The honour for the best Italian short film, the Cinelab Spazio Corto Award, went to Nicolò Folin’s The Other Lives, in which the memories of deceased people can be preserved, allowing the living to interact with those who have passed.
Finally, the Event Horizon Award (National Institute for Astrophysics Award) was presented to author Ted Chiang, recognising his ability to capture the genuine way scientists think about understanding the universe. His bibliography includes works such as Exhalation, The Lifecycle of Software Objects, and Story of Your Life, which was adapted into the film Arrival. Chiang was on hand to introduce a screening of Denis Villeneuve’s classic, as well as taking part in an enlightening discussion on AI.
Each event went down well with the attendees. The Halloween night DJ set at the Sci-Fi Dome in Piazza della Borsa was packed with revellers getting down to some wicked beats. A little too much for us, but it was fabulous seeing everyone having a blast (despite the drizzly weather).
Find out more about Trieste Science+Fiction Festival here.
Photos courtesy of Trieste Science+Fiction Festival
