The Trieste Science+Fiction Festival, Italy’s premier event celebrating science fiction, has revealed its poster for the 2024 edition, which was penned by Michele Rech, aka Zerocalcare.
Zerocalcare’s poster for the 24th edition of the festival strikingly tackles the complex issue of Generative Artificial Intelligence. The illustration reflects the growing concerns and possibilities surrounding this rapidly evolving technology. It portrays a world where machines are no longer just tools but creators capable of producing art and text. This shift represents a significant departure from traditional notions of AI’s role in society and is a poignant image in today’s tech climate.
For those unfamiliar with Zerocalcare and his work, he was most recently involved in the Netflix adult animated series This World Can’t Tear Me Down. He is also well-known for his comics and was featured at the internationally renowned Lucca Comics & Games Festival in 2019. His work spans a range of mediums, including variant covers for Absolute Carnage and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, to just name a few.
The artist commented on the inspiration behind his work, saying, “The poster tells the story of the distance between how I imagined science fiction as a kid and how my expectations have evolved. We used to think that in the future, machines would do the alienating and exhausting jobs, leaving humans free to dedicate themselves to the arts.” He elaborated: “Today, the evolution of artificial intelligence shows us a possible dystopia in which machines replace us in drawing and writing, while people continue to wake up in the morning to go to their worksite.”
Artistic Director Alan Jones praised Zerocalcare’s contribution, emphasizing the festival’s theme of “BrAInstorm the MegaFuture.” He explained, “From the past to the present and the future, AI is in all our lives. That’s why the Trieste Science+Fiction mission statement this year is ‘BrAInstorm the MegaFuture,’ something the global community needs to address urgently. As the co-director of FrightFest, I see a wide selection of genre films on both the busy FrightFest and Trieste Science+Fiction submission platforms. There is a certain crossover aspect that I wholeheartedly embrace because if a title works for the discerning FrightFest audience, I know it will also work for the Trieste Science+Fiction spectator too.”
The 2024 edition of the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival is shaping up to be a diverse and thought-provoking event. Attendees can look forward to a wide range of activities beyond film screenings. The festival will feature Mondofuturo, a series of talks with science communicators, and IVIPRO Days, which explores storytelling through video games. Industry professionals can participate in the Fantastic Film Forum, offering insights into the film and audiovisual sectors.
A new addition to this year’s festival is the Mondofuturo Literary Prize, which will recognize the best original science fiction book published in Italy in 2023. This award further cements the festival’s commitment to celebrating all forms of science fiction storytelling.
As the festival approaches, science fiction fans and industry professionals alike are eagerly anticipating the chance to explore the genre’s cutting edge. With its blend of film, literature, and scientific discourse, the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival will once again be a platform for looking to the future.