Fantafestival


Fantafestival is a film festival devoted to science fiction, fantasy and horror film that has been held annually in Italy since 1981.
Fantafestival takes place every year in the first part of summer in Rome. In the past years, while maintaining its headquarters in Rome, some editions were held in contemporary in different Italian cities like Milan, Naples, Genoa, Verona, Parma and Ravenna.
It was established in 1981 by Alberto Ravaglioli, supported since 1983 by Adriano Pintaldi, who left in 2015; since 2019 the festival is directed by Michele De Angelis and Simone Starace. For more than 30 years, Fantafestival has been one of the leading Italian events specialized in fantastic films and one of the most important international events of this kind. It has presented and launched in Italy many filmmakers who later would become among the most popular in the fantastic film world. The list of guests of honor includes all the biggest names in the genre, from actors such as Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, John Carradine, Rutger Hauer, Robert Englund, to directors and producers like Roger Corman, Freddie Francis, George A. Romero, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Sam Raimi, Peter Jackson, and among Italians, Lucio Fulci, Riccardo Freda, Dario Argento and Lamberto Bava.
The festival is a founding and affiliated member of the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation.

Awards

1981
1982
1983
1984
  • Best film: The Dead Zone, directed by David Cronenberg
  • Best screenplay: Nico Mastorakis e Fred Perry – Blind Date; Stephen Carpenter, Jeffrey Obrow – The Power
  • Best special effects: Tempesta metallica
  • Audience award: The Dead Zone, directed by David Cronenberg
  • Special award: Quest, directed by Elaine and Saul Bass
1985
1986
1987
  • Best film: Mannequin, directed by Michael Gottlieb
  • Best director: Michael Gottlieb – Mannequin
  • Best actor: Andrew McCarthy – Mannequin
  • Best actress: Yvonne De Carlo – American Gothic
  • Best special effects: Dolls
  • Best first work: La Casa del Buon Ritorno, directed by Beppe Cino
1988
1989
1990
  • Best film: Un minuto a mezzanotte, directed by René Manzor
  • Best director: René Manzor – Un minuto a mezzanotte
  • Best actor: Klaus Maria Brandauer – L'orologiaio
  • Best actress: Elena Lokvleva – Lestniza
1991
  • Best film: Adrenaline, directed by Renée and Marc Caro
  • Best director: Peter Jackson – Meet the Feebles
  • Best actor: Lance Henriksen – The Pit and the Pendulum
  • Best actress: Heidi – Meet the Feebles
  • Best special effects: Meet the Feebles
  • Special award: Il gioco delle ombre, directed by Stefano Gabrini – Notte profonda, directed by Fabio Salerno
1992
  • Best film: Spleepwalkers, directed by Mick Garris
  • Best director: Mick Garris – Spleepwalkers
  • Best actor: Tim Balme – Braindead
  • Best actress: Alice Krige – Spleepwalkers
  • Best screenplay: Stephen King – Spleepwalkers
  • Best special effects: Braindead
1993
1994
1995
  • Best film: Nightwatch, directed by Ole Bornedal
  • Best director: Guillermo del Toro – Cronos
  • Best actor: Robert Englund – The Mangler
  • Best actress: Rikke Louise Andersson – Nightwatch
  • Best special effects: Death Machine
  • Best independent film: Shatter Dead, directed by Scooter McCrae
  • Audience award: The Roly Poly Man, directed by Bill Young
  • Career award: Ennio Morricone
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2010
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019