25th Trieste Science+Fiction Festival Promises Big Guests Bold Films and One Wild Poster

Italy’s longest-running celebration of speculative cinema and imagination, the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival, will mark its 25th anniversary with a bold new look and an expanded slate of screenings, talks and exhibitions. Running from 28 October to 2 November 2025, the milestone edition will take place across venues including Politeama Rossetti, Teatro Miela and the festival’s central Sci-Fi Dome in Piazza della Borsa.

To commemorate the occasion, organisers have unveiled a specially commissioned poster by Sara Pichelli, co-creator of Marvel’s Miles Morales and a key artist behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The artwork features a lone female figure clutching a flower—a dual symbol of fragility and defiance. Her expression suggests fear and rage, set against a backdrop that evokes the complexities of a world shaped by artificial intelligence and fluid identity.

Speaking on her contribution, Pichelli said she wanted to depict someone caught between self-doubt and determination, reflecting the struggle to remain human in an increasingly synthetic age. The result is a visually arresting image that captures both the emotional urgency and thematic breadth of contemporary science fiction.

Since its inception in 2000, the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival has evolved into one of Europe’s most influential genre showcases, continuing the legacy of the original Trieste International Science Fiction Film Festival that ran from 1963 to 1982. Over the years, the event has welcomed genre icons such as Christopher Lee, Dario Argento, Joe Dante and Terry Gilliam, while consistently offering a platform to emerging talent.

This year’s programme will feature a diverse mix of screenings, industry events and cultural conversations. Among the confirmed highlights are Mondofuturo, a science outreach strand spotlighting forward-thinking communicators; IVIPRO Days, focusing on video games and cultural heritage; and the Fantastic Film Forum, offering a series of panels for professionals working in genre media. The Mondofuturo Literary Prize, now in its second year, will also return to recognise excellence in Italian speculative fiction.

Artistic Director Alan Jones has promised a boundary-pushing edition packed with blockbusters, cult oddities and unexpected gems. With its blend of international flair and regional identity, the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival continues to offer a vital space for innovation, reflection and cinematic exploration.

More details can be found at sciencefictionfestival.org.