Fantafestival

The historic festival of Italian fantasy cinema

Fantafestival was founded in 1981 and has since been an uninterrupted witness to the history of genre cinema in Italy: it is the country's longest-running festival dedicated to fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Over the decades, it has hosted legendary figures such as Vincent Price and Christopher Lee, as well as directors of the caliber of George A. Romero and Dario Argento, becoming a key reference point for enthusiasts and young filmmakers entering the genre.

Where it takes place

The event is held in the Municipality of Rome, the capital of the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital and the capital of the Lazio region. The usual venue in recent years is Spazio Scena on Via degli Orti d'Alibert, a stone's throw from Trastevere and the Lungotevere: an intimate screening room that encourages direct interaction between the public, directors, and industry insiders, far removed from the formal atmosphere of large international festivals.

What to expect

The program is built on multiple tracks that intertwine daily, generally from the afternoon until late evening:

• Feature Film Competition: Italian premieres of horror, sci-fi, thriller, and fantasy productions from around the world.
• Fantacorti: compilations of short films in competition, a true showcase for emerging talent in genre cinema.
• Retrospectives and Tributes: thematic reviews dedicated to the masters and the artisanal techniques of special effects from the pre-digital era.
• Masterclasses and Meetings: open lessons with directors, composers, effects artists, and screenwriters.
• Panoramica Italia: a window into contemporary Italian fantasy production, often invisible in the mainstream theatrical circuit.
• Exhibitions and Editorial Presentations set up in the festival spaces for the duration of the event.

The Awards

The symbol of Fantafestival is the Golden Bat (Pipistrello d'Oro), awarded to the best feature and short film by a jury composed of writers, directors, and industry technicians. In recent years, the UNINT Award, the Vespertilio Awards, and a special recognition for the best Italian film in competition have been added, along with a Lifetime Achievement Golden Bat presented to a personality who has left a mark on the history of the genre.

The Fantapitch

Alongside the screenings, the festival hosts the Fantapitch, the first Italian pitch event entirely dedicated to genre cinema: authors present unpublished projects—shorts, features, animation, and fantasy documentaries—to production companies. This is one of the aspects that most distinguishes Fantafestival from purely spectator-oriented events, as it transforms it into a true workspace for the industry.

The Atmosphere

Those who attend Fantafestival describe a community-like atmosphere: rooms full of enthusiasts who have known each other for years, directors who stay in the audience after their screening, and discussions that continue outside the hall. The formula, supported in recent years by the artistic direction of Marcello Rossi and Luca Ruocco, combines the memory of Italian genre cinema—Bava, Argento, Fulci—with the discovery of international works that rarely reach ordinary cinema circuits. For those visiting Rome in autumn, it is an unusual opportunity to experience the city away from the most beaten tourist paths.