Ischia Global Film & Music Festival, also known as Ischia Global Fest, is an annual festival of film and music held on the Italian island of Ischia each July. Founded in 2003 and still directed by Pascal Vicedomini, the festival presents awards to films, filmmakers, actors, musicians, and artists in a wide variety of categories.
History
The inaugural Ischia Global was held in 2003. It was founded by Pascal Vicedomini, who also founded the Capri Hollywood Festival.
It became known as featuring then unknown artists who went on to become stars, including Michael Fassbender, Gerard Butler, Forest Whitaker, and Michel Hazanavicius.
The 2015 edition was dedicated to Whitney Houston, who died in 2012. The biopic Whitney was screened along with several of her films, including the famous 1992 classic The Bodyguard. In the same year, the last film starring Robin Williams before his death, Boulevard, had its European premiere on opening night of the festival.
In 2016, the 2016 reboot Ghostbusters, The Legend Of Tarzan, and Mr. Church were screened at the festival.
In 2021, the festival focused on the ocean and the environment, featuring the Netflix documentary My Octopus Teacher, with sponsorship by Leonardo di Caprio and his foundation.
Description
The film festival is a very popular summer event held in July, and hosts international as well as Italian films, filmmakers, and celebrities. In addition to hosting films and awards, the event holds seminars and marketing events, such as the V Global Production Summit and the V World Script Market.
, founder Pascal Vicedomini still produces the festival, with Aldo Arcangioli as president, and Franco Nero, Marina Cicogna, Gianni Ambrosino, Mark Canton, Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo, Enrico Lucherini, and Vanni Fondi on the board. It is sponsored by the Ischia International Arts Academy and DG Cinema and Audiovision of MiC, and is a member of AFIC (Association of Italian Film Festivals), in partnership with cultural academies.
The festival screens films made by and for streaming services such as Netflix as well as those made for cinema.
Awards
The festival awards prizes in a large number of categories, including (past and present):
Ischia Best Feature Award
Ischia Best Documentary (Feature) Award
Ischia Best Short Award
Ischia Fiction Award
Ischia Italian Movie Award
Ischia Global Award – Director of the Year
Ischia Breakout Director of the Year /Breakout Italian Director Award
Ischia Italian Director Award
Ischia Rising Star Award
Ischia Producer of the Year Award
Ischia King of Comedy Award
Ischia Prince of Comedy - Carlo Vanzina Award
Ischia Italian Actor of the Year Award
Ischia Actor Award
Ischia Actress Award
Ischia Breakout Actor Award
Ischia Breakout Actress Award
Ischia Italian Worldwide Award
Ischia Filmmaker of the Year Award
Ischia Exploit Award
Ischia Newcomer Award
Ischia People Award
Ischia Dubbing Award
Ischia Global Ambassador Award
Ischia Global Art Award /Art Award /Enrico Job Art Award
Ischia Master of Cinematic Art Award
William Walton Legend Award
Luchino Visconti Legend Award
Ischia Film & Music Award
Ischia Global Music Award
Some past winners
In 2012, the brothers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani received the Ischia Legend Award.
In 2013, Australian director Baz Luhrmann won the Luchino Visconti Legend Award, named after Italian director Luchino Visconti
In 2017, Lily Collins, star of ''To the Bone, won the Rising Star award.
At the 21st edition in 2023, Brendan Fraser was honoured as Global Actor of the Year at the festival. Rob Marshall received the Luchino Visconti Legend Award, while songwriter Diane Warren received the William Walton Legend Award. English composer Simon Franglen won the Ischia Film & Music Award, while singer Sofia Carson received the Ischia Global Music Award.