The idea of creating an award dedicated to the best screenplay was born in 1977, when Senator Darko Bratina met screenwriter Sergio Amidei at the Belgrade International Film Festival. The aim was to create a film festival that would put writing for the cinema first, working around the concept of the screenplay. The project came to fruition in the summer of 1981, unfortunately a few months after Amidei's death. It was therefore decided to dedicate the first edition of the Prize to him. The screenings were accompanied by a number of round tables attended by numerous personalities from the world of cinema who were friends or witnesses of Amidei's work, including Alberto Sordi, Ettore Scola, Nanny Loy, Mario Monicelli, Carlo Lizzani, Agenore Incrocci, Furio Scarpelli, Giuliana Muscio, Gian Pietro Brunetta, Gianni Rondolino, Giovanna Ralli and Jean Girault. Over the years, the Prize has hosted some of the most recognised masters of international cinema.
Maintaining its original spirit, it aims to put writing at the centre, from film writing (with the award for the best author's work and the best screenplay) to serial writing, from critical analysis to the story of lesser-known cinema (with the independent looks section). For the year 2025, the Award will organise an edition full of guests and moments of confrontation, useful for building those bridges and bonds that our time so desperately needs. The screenings and meetings will take place at the Piazza Vittoria arena, in the halls of Kinemax Gorizia in Piazza Vittoria and at the Mediateca.GO ‘Ugo Casiraghi’.
