International Festival of the Archaeological Cinema

The International Festival of the Archaeological Cinema was founded in April 1990 in Rovereto, during the conference “Paolo Orsi and archaeology in the 20^th century”, with the aim to reach and raise public awareness on the issues of archaeological research of the protection of the cultural heritage.

The event is organized by the Rovereto civic museum Foundation; some of the most important Italian archaeologists, such as Paolo Orsi and Federico Halbherr, who lived between the 19^th and 20^th century, studied in this institution. The main partner of the festival is the magazine Archeologia Viva of Florence, the best known journal of archeology in Italy. The programme of screenings is held in Rovereto every year in the first weeks of October; it includes cinematographic works in the field of the archaeological, historical, paleontological, anthropological research, whose aim is the protection and enhancement of the cultural heritage. An average of 60 to 70 films are showed every year, and the prize "Città di Rovereto - Archeologia Viva" is awarded by public voting; moreover, every second year an international jury awards the "Paolo Orsi" Award to the best film within a selection of films. This selection is thematic and concerns recent works.

Many meetings and talks with the protagonists of the archaeological research and those responsible for the conservation and protection of the heritage - archaeologists and scientists from around the world – help increase the knowledge in the field of archeology.

In collaboration with "Archaeologia Viva", this Festival presents every year a widespread network of film festivals on specific themes of the archaeological research. These events are held in Italy and abroad in collaboration with organizations and scientific institutions and museums.
Since 1990, the Director of the Festival is Dario Di Blasi of the Civic Museum of Rovereto.