Trieste Science+Fiction Festival Celebrates 25 Years Of Cinematic Wonder

The Trieste Science+Fiction Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary with over 50 film premieres, panels, and special events.

Over 50 Premieres, Global Guests, and the Future of Sci-Fi Take Center Stage in Italy’s Genre Capital

The Trieste Science+Fiction Festival returns from October 28 to November 2, celebrating its monumental 25th anniversary as Italy’s premiere event dedicated to the fantastic and the futuristic. Organized by La Cappella Underground, this year’s milestone edition promises a dazzling convergence of cinema, art, and imagination—bringing together over 50 world, international, and Italian premieres, alongside visionary guests and immersive special events.

Held at the Politeama Rossetti, the festival will showcase groundbreaking works from across the globe while expanding beyond the screen into literature, video games, comics, and visual art—continuing its mission to explore “the wonders of the possible.”

Festival Director Alan Jones notes, “For its 25th Anniversary edition, the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival has assembled a multi-faceted diverse programme that will once more innovate, challenge, thrill, amaze and, of course, entertain. As always, the genre reflects our reality through the lens of incredible futures.”

Festival Highlights

Opening Night – October 28

L’Homme qui rétrécit (The Shrinking Man) – France/Belgium, 2025, directed by Jan Kounen.

Adapted from Richard Matheson’s classic novel, the film stars Jean Dujardin as a man mysteriously shrinking after a contamination, forced to fight for survival in an ever-expanding world.

Late Screening – October 28

The Ugly Stepsister – Sweden/Denmark, 2025, directed by Emilie Blichfeldt.

A grotesque and daring body-horror reimagining of Cinderella, screening in collaboration with I Wonder Pictures.

Other Standout Screenings

• October 30: Egghead Republic (Sweden, 2025) – A Cold War dystopia from Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja.

• October 31: Bulk (UK, 2025) – Ben Wheatley’s sci-fi action-horror epic, featuring car chases, romance, and chaos, with the director in attendance.

• November 1: Arco (France, 2025) – A Cannes highlight from Ugo Bienvenu, exploring childhood, color, and the cosmic unknown.

• November 1: Orion (USA, 2024) – Jaco Bouwer (Gaia) returns with a tense, psychological space thriller.

• November 2 (Closing Night): Chien 51 (France, 2025) – Cédric Jimenez delivers a dark, dystopian vision of a divided Paris ruled by AI and suspicion.

Documentary Premieres

• John Lilly and the Earth Coincidence Control Office – Michael Almereyda and Courtney Stephens look into the psychedelic science of dolphin communication.

• Orwell 2+2=5 – Raoul Peck, produced by Alex Gibney, reimagines Orwell’s political nightmare for the age of algorithms.

Special Guests and Panels

The festival’s guest of honor Gabriele Mainetti (They Call Me Jeeg Robot, Freaks Out) will preside over the Asteroide Award jury.

Joining him is acclaimed sci-fi author Ted Chiang, whose short story Story of Your Life inspired Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival, bringing deep philosophical insight into artificial intelligence and the human condition.

Events will unfold under the iconic Sci-Fi Dome in Piazza della Borsa, the festival’s vibrant hub for panels, podcast recordings, and late-night celebrations.

25 Years of Sci-Fi Legacy

For a quarter century, the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival has championed speculative cinema that dares to dream — bridging visionary art, social commentary, and the thrill of the unknown. This year’s edition cements its legacy as one of Europe’s essential destinations for genre lovers, creators, and futurists alike.

Visit sciencefictionfestival.org for tickets, schedules, and guest updates.