Ischia Global Film & Music Festival

Ischia Global Film & Music Festival
LocationIschia, Italy
Established2003; 23 years ago (2003)
Founded byPascal Vicedomini
Websiteischiaglobal.com

Ischia Global Film & Music Festival, also known as Ischia Global Fest, is an annual festival of film and music held each July in Ischia, Italy. Founded in 2003, the festival presents awards to films, filmmakers, actors, musicians, and artists in a wide variety of categories.

History

The festival was founded by Pascal Vicedomini and was first held in 2003. It became known for featuring then-unknown artists who later became 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 Bodyguard. That same year, Boulevard, the final film starring Robin Williams before his death, had its European premiere on the festival's opening night.

In 2016, 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 DiCaprio and his foundation.

Overview

The film festival hosts international and Italian films, filmmakers, and celebrities. In addition, the event holds seminars and marketing events, such as the V Global Production Summit and the V World Script Market.

Founder Pascal Vicedomini is the festival producer, with Aldo Arcangioli serving 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, the DG Cinema and Audiovision of MiC, and is a member of AFIC (Association of Italian Film Festivals), operating in partnership with cultural academies.

The festival screens films made by and for streaming services, such as Netflix, as well as those made for cinemas.

Awards

The festival presents awards across a range of categories, including:

Winners

In 2012, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani were honored with the Ischia Legend Award, followed by Nicolas Cage and Samuel L. Jackson in 2013.

In 2016, Vittorio Storaro and Barry Morrow received the Ischia Legend Award. Bruce Beresford received the Luchino Visconti Legend Award, named after Italian film director Luchino Visconti. Prior recipients of the award include Taylor Hackford, Tom Hooper, Paul Haggis, Stephen Frears, Alan Parker, Terry Gilliam, Jim Sheridan, Joel Schumacher, and Baz Luhrmann.

In 2017, Lily Collins received the Rising Star Award for her performance in To the Bone.

In 2023, Brendan Fraser was honoured as Global Actor of the Year at the festival, Rob Marshall received the Luchino Visconti Legend Award, and 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.

In 2024, Trudie Styler received the Ischia Award for Best Documentary for Posso entrare? An Ode To Naples.

In 2025, Malcolm McDowell and Steven Bauer were honored at the festival.

In 2026, Abel Ferrara was honoured with the Luchino Visconti Award, and Cuba Gooding Jr. received the Ischia Art Award.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ischia and the Global Film Festival: An international event in the beautiful Gulf of Naples". Capasecca Yacht. 4 July 2021. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 De Marco, Camillo (6 June 2012). "Ischia Global Film & Music, the green island hosts great cinema". Cineuropa. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  3. ↑ The Hollywood Reporter (3 June 2015). "Ischia Film Festival Sets Whitney Houston Retrospective". Billboard. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Anderson, Ariston (29 June 2015). "Robin Williams' Final Film 'Boulevard' to Open Ischia Global Fest". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Govi, Alec; Kay, Jeremy (22 June 2016). "Americas Briefs: Ischia Global Film and Music Festival to screen 'Ghostbusters'". Screen Daily. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "About Us". Ischia Global Fest. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "Chiara Valenti Omero • President of the AFIC – Association of Italian Film Festivals". Cineuropa. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  8. 1 2 Anderson, Ariston (12 June 2017). "Ischia Fest to Honor Lily Collins for Work in New Netflix Film 'To the Bone'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ischia Global Film Festival". FilmFreeway. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Lyman, Eric J. (28 May 2013). "Nicolas Cage Latest Honoree at Star-Studded Ischia Global Fest". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  11. ↑ Lyman, Eric J. (13 May 2013). "Samuel L. Jackson to be Honored at Italy's Ischia Fest". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  12. ↑ Vivarelli, Nick (8 June 2016). "Vittorio Storaro and Screenwriter Barry Morrow to be Feted by Italy's Ischia Global Fest". Variety. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  13. ↑ McNary, Dave (21 June 2016). "Director Bruce Beresford to Receive Ischia Festival's Visconti Award". Variety. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  14. ↑ Lyman, Eric J. (18 June 2013). "'Great Gatsby' Director Baz Luhrmann to Be Honored at Ischia Global Fest". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  15. ↑ Feinberg, Scott (1 July 2023). "Ischia Global Film & Music Fest: Brendan Fraser, Rob Marshall and Diane Warren Set for Top Honors". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  16. ↑ "Ischia Global Film & Music Festival 2023 – Diane Warren, Simon Franglen & Sofia Carson". SoundTrackFest. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  17. ↑ "Trudie Styler Celebrated With Sting Her Ischia Award 2024 For The Best Documentary". Ischia Global Festival (in Italian). 9 July 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  18. ↑ "Honoring Icons at Ischia Global Fest". Il Mattino. 22 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  19. ↑ "Abel Ferrara Honored with Ischia Luchino Visconti Global Award". Il Mattino. 10 July 2026. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Al premio Oscar Cuba Gooding Jr. l'Ischia Global Award" [Ischia Global Award goes to Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr.]. Il Mattino di Padova (in Italian). 15 July 2026. Retrieved 23 July 2026.