# Ischia Global Film & Music Festival

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 as of 2023 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 DiCaprio 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.
As of 2023, 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.