“The future starts tonight in Castle of San Giusto” and “the Moon hides not to darken the cinema stars”
(“Il Piccolo sera”, 6 luglio 1963)
A lunar eclipse witnesses the first International Science Fiction Film Festival, whose international board of excellence includes: Kingsley Amin, English writer ; Gene Moskovitz, correspondent at “Variety”; Jacques Bergier , director of “Planète; Umberto Eco, semiologist and correspondent at “Corriere della Sera”; Pierre Kast, French director; Duilio Magris, president of Azienda di Soggiorno e Turismo, in charge of the organization of this event; Gastone Schiavotto, the Festival director.
Both the films “Ikarie XB 1” of Jindřich Polák (Czech Republic) and “La Jetée” of Chris Marker (France) are awarded the Astronave d’oro, realized by Marcello Mascherini, a sculptor from Trieste.
Later the prize changes its name into Asteroide d’oro and Nino Perizi takes charge of its realization.
At the Festival in 1963 The Man with the X-Ray Eyes, a Roger Corman’s film, has its world premiere in Trieste and it is awarded the Astronave d’argento. James H. Nicholson (Jack’s father), the film producer, co-founder of American International Pictures (AIP) in the U.S., takes part in the event.
Attack of the Puppet People / Bert I. Gordon
Un Amour de Poche / Pierre Kast
Ikarus XB-1 / Jindrich Polak / Astronave d’oro
La Jetée / Chris Marker / Astronave d’oro
Journey to the Stars / John D. Wilson
Muz z prvního století / Oldrich Lipský
L’uomo anfibio / Guennadi Kazanksky + Vladimir Chebotarev / Astronave d’argento
L’uomo dagli occhi a raggi X / Roger Corman / Astronave d’argento
Awards
Astronave d’oro ex equo Ikarus XB-1, Jindrich Polák + La Jetée, Chris Marker
Astronave d’argento ex equo The Amphibious Man, Vladimir Chebotaryov & Gennadi Kazansky + X – The Man With X-Ray Eyes, Roger Corman
Sigillo d’oro della città di Trieste Kybernetická babicka(La nonna cibernetica), Jirí Trnka
Sigillo d’argento Little Island, Richard Williams