Italia Media Art Festival 2026: From Maker Faire Rome to the Grand International Exhibition in Zagarolo

After Maker Faire Rome, Italia Media Art Festival brings video art, AI and immersive installations to Palazzo Rospigliosi in Zagarolo, November 20–22.

ROME, ITALY, November 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Italia Media Art Festival (IMAF) continues its third edition, dedicated to the theme “The Energy That Transforms: Human and Spiritual Strength Becoming Action for the Future.” Following its participation in Maker Faire Rome 2026, held October 23–25 at the Gazometro Ostiense, the Festival is preparing for its Grand International Exhibition, scheduled for November 20–22 at Palazzo Rospigliosi in Zagarolo, Italy.

Founded in 2024 by Italian-Venezuelan journalist Marinellys Tremamunno and promoted by Associazione Piccola Venezia APS, IMAF is an international platform connecting artistic creation, emerging technologies, and contemporary social issues.

The 2026 edition received 144 international submissions, including 113 for Video Art & Performance and 31 for Video Installations, setting a new participation record.

Interactive Art Captivates Audiences at Maker Faire Rome

Maker Faire Rome 2026 attracted approximately 55,000 visitors, a 22% increase over the previous edition. Within this international innovation event, IMAF presented 17 video artworks and two interactive installations, bringing digital art beyond traditional exhibition spaces.

With Prabhā Aura, Italian artist Claudio Marani explores the relationship between energy, body, and perception, transforming human presence into an artistic experience through technology.

Breathearth, by Maria Korporal, focuses on the relationship between humanity and nature. Visitors' breathing activates a digital ecosystem, making the interdependence between human life and the environment visible.

Both installations transform spectators into active participants, highlighting the interactive nature of contemporary media art.

"We were literally overwhelmed! Throughout the three days of Maker Faire, queues frequently formed in front of our stand, with visitors curious about the artworks and eager to experience the interactive installations. It was extraordinarily rewarding to see so many people of all ages approaching media art with such enthusiasm. This response confirms how important it is to bring digital art beyond museums and make it accessible to everyone," says Marinellys Tremamunno, Founder and Artistic Director of IMAF.

Seventeen Video Artworks Exploring Contemporary Challenges

The Festival's video art selection includes 13 works chosen through an international Open Call supported by Enel, alongside four works by invited artists.

The five selected Italian artists are Uta Dag (Catania), with Time and Space, an autobiographical journey through collage; Giorgio Gerardi (Venice), with Tree, exploring perception and technology; Filippo Prestinari (Milan), with Vis Viva, reflecting on humanity's legacy; Ylenia Raviola (Milan), with Veemente, examining energy as transformation; and Michela Sbrana (Pisa), with Sacrificio, combining real imagery, artificial intelligence, and original music.

The international selection features Joseph Ayerle (Geneva), with 1058 MHz. Basel Club Edit, exploring algorithms and movement; Johan Barbosa (Bogotá), with Jungle Souls, addressing nature's spirituality; Andre Figueroa (Cochabamba), with El Salar, inspired by Andean mythology; Anastasia Pavlova (Saint Petersburg), with From One Point, exploring the origins of artistic expression; Kenneth Russo (Girona), with Doubt, addressing critical thinking in the digital age; Negar Samadikia (Karaj), with Time, examining migration; Angelina Voskopoulou (Athens), with I Soli che Bruciano, reflecting on memory and loss; and Nan Zhang (Beijing), with Hyperdimensional Symbiote, exploring connections between life and technology.

Four invited artists complete the program: Marco Caridad (Maracaibo), with Noche de San Juan, inspired by a Caribbean ritual; Bruno Cerboni (Rome), with Lux Humana, an AI-generated visual poem about human-centered energy transformation; Victoria Thomen (Rome), with Mons Movens, exploring invisible transformations in nature and humanity; and the Naples-based duo GlitchA/V Project, with Emergent Thoughts, combining evolving imagery and electronic music.

Together, these works explore identity, memory, environmental awareness, technological transformation, and the evolving relationship between humanity and digital innovation.

An International Journey Connecting Italy and Venezuela

IMAF 2026 began its international program on October 20 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, with its World Premiere at the Centro de Bellas Artes – Ateneo de Maracaibo.

The Italian premiere followed on October 22 at the Università degli Studi di Roma UnitelmaSapienza, attended by Alessandro Zehentner, Chairman of Snam, institutional representatives, international artists, and cultural partners.

Following Maker Faire Rome, the Festival continued on October 30 in Caracas, at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB), strengthening cultural connections between Europe and Latin America.

These international events reflect IMAF's mission to encourage artistic exchange across geographical boundaries while fostering dialogue between technological innovation and cultural identity.

Grand International Exhibition at Palazzo Rospigliosi

The Festival will culminate in its Grand International Exhibition, November 20–22, at Palazzo Rospigliosi in Zagarolo, organized in collaboration with the Lazio Region, through Lazio Innova, and the Palazzo Rospigliosi Institution of the Municipality of Zagarolo.

Curated by Marinellys Tremamunno and Mariia Plekhova, the exhibition will bring together video art and 11 interactive installations, alongside works by artists employing traditional techniques.

Virtual reality, artificial intelligence, immersive environments, and audiovisual experimentation will interact with conventional visual arts within the historic setting of Palazzo Rospigliosi.

This encounter between digital and traditional artistic languages will encourage visitors to reflect on the relationship between creativity, technological progress, and human experience.

The exhibition represents an important milestone for IMAF, strengthening its collaboration with cultural institutions and regional innovation initiatives while expanding opportunities for international artists.

The 2026 edition is supported by Enel, sponsor of the Video Art & Performance Open Call, and Snam, sponsor of the Video Installations Open Call, in collaboration with Rome Art Week, Maker Faire Rome, and UnitelmaSapienza.

The Grand International Exhibition opens Friday, November 20, at 5:00 PM. Admission will be free on Saturday, November 21, and Sunday, November 22, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. More information: www.italiamediaartfestival.it

Marinellys Tremamunno
ITALIA MEDIA ART FESTIVAL
+39 380 753 2143