Fantafestival was born in 1981, following the experiences of some fantastic cinema enthusiasts who had been part of the revival of interest in the genre recorded in the second half of ’70s. specifically, the festival is a derivation of the national sci-fi movie festivals organized for the “Italnoleggio” circuit in the years ’74-’77 and of the great fantastic cinema festivals held by Cineclub Tevere of Rome starting since ’75.
Fantafestival started at Clodio cinema in Rome in October 1981 and then moved, over the years, as its main venue to the Capranica-Capranichetta complex, the Barberini, the Quattro Fontane, the Savoy and to the Nuovo Cinema Aquila. The festival has always been characterized by a popular cut, open to the general public of enthusiasts. On some occasions it was also exported to other large Italian cities, with contemporary screening in Milan, Ravenna, Naples, Verona and Genoa. Thanks to numerous international collaborations, in 1986 he was among the founding members of the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation, strongly supported by Fantafestival and created together with the festivals of Brussels, Sitges (Spain) and Porto (Portugal).
Brief chronology
1981: Fantafestival is born and the first edition sees the legend of international fantastic cinema Vincent Price as main guest.
1984: Three of the greatest directors of contemporary fantastic cinema are guests of Fantafestival: Roger Corman, David Cronenberg and Sam Raimi, who brought his first movie Evil Dead to Rome.
1985: Fantafestival awards the special FantaItaly prize to three of our best-known genre directors: Dario Argento, Lamberto Bava and Pupi Avati.
1986: Fantafestival conquers a second location. Part of the edition takes place in Milan.
1989: The Fantafestival‘s audience award goes to Bad Taste by the young Peter Jackson. Among the guests of the edition also Alejandro Jodorowsky with Santa Sangre and the second man to have set foot on the Moon Buzz Aldrin.
1997: Fantafestival dedicates an exhibition to the cinema of Dario Argento: Frammenti di Paura – Franco Vitali on the set of Dario Argento, organized at Palazzo delle Esposizioni.
2000: Fantafestival celebrates its 20 years and it takes place in 4 cities for the first time. Beside Rome, Naples, Verona and Genoa are added.
2003: Fantafestival dedicates an exhibition to the character of Diabolik, opening up to the world of comics.
2006: Sergio Stivaletti, Nightmares Creator is the personal exhibition that the Fantafestival dedicates to the Roman special effects artist and director.
2011: Panoramica Italia is born, a section that soon became one of the most important showcases for the new generation of Italian fantastic cinema moviemakers.
2015: Fantafestival brings the Italian Gothic diva Barbara Steele back to Italy.
2018: Fantafestival presents the latest film by the master of cannibal-horror Ruggero Deodato Ballad in Blood and the restored version of Dario Argento‘s masterpiece Suspiria in the presence of the director, the director of photography Luciano Tovoli and the actress Stefania Casini.
Directors
1981: Luigi Cozzi e Alberto Ravaglioli (founders)
1982: Alberto Ravaglioli
1983-2015: Adriano Pintaldi, Alberto Ravaglioli
2016-2017: Alberto Ravaglioli
2018: Marcello Rossi, Luca Ruocco
2019-2021: Michele De Angelis, Simone Starace
2022-2023: Simone Starace
2024: Marcello Rossi, Luca Ruocco, Simone Starace