--- title: Italian Screenwriters Making Their Mark Building on Italian Genre Traditions description: Italian screenwriters earn global acclaim as their AI-themed script ‘River’ wins at Vegas Movie Awards™ highlighting Italy’s speculative fiction cinema author: Darie Nani (Editor-in-Chief) date: 2025-07-03T08:50:50.000Z updated: 2026-02-26T18:02:19.577Z canonical: https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/italian-screenwriters-making-their-mark-building-on-italian-genre-traditions image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/mld541i0nsu.jpg categories: Culture content_type: Spotlight region: Milan publication: Sovereign Magazine --- Italian screenwriters Giuseppe De Vuono and Alberto Merigo have won international recognition at the Vegas Movie Awards™ for their speculative fiction script ‘River’. The screenplay tackles artificial intelligence and human consciousness themes, adding to Italy’s growing presence in global cinema. The script won Best Feature Script at the [Vegas Movie Awards™](https://www.vegasmovieawards.com/). It tells the story of a scientist who fuses human and robot consciousness to create a new form of life, only to discover a plot threatening mankind’s survival. The Las Vegas-based festival receives submissions from over 80 countries and counts Academy Awards®, Emmys®, Golden Globes® and BAFTA®-winning filmmakers among its alumni network. ## Italian Writers Making Their Mark De Vuono graduated from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan with a degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures. His passion for writing came from his father’s stories about mythological worlds. He wrote his first screenplay ‘Put A Price On Emotion’ in 2020 and recently directed ‘Nodo in gola’ (2024). Merigo shares the same dedication to cinema and artistic creation. Following their Vegas Movie Awards™ win, the duo said: ‘It’s art the greatest manifestation of human power, so rich in inspiration, shapes and colours.’ ## River’s Take on Consciousness The ‘River’ screenplay explores themes central to current discussions about artificial intelligence and human identity. The story examines the dangerous territory between human and artificial consciousness, raising questions about what defines life when [technology and humanity merge](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/ai-generated-cinema-reaches-imax-milestone-as-animation-industry-evolves). These themes reflect a growing interest in Italian cinema. The [Trieste Science+Fiction Festival](https://europasf.eu/the-winners-of-trieste-sciencefiction-festival-2019-italy/), Italy’s premier event for speculative fiction since 1963, has long supported Italian creators working in this genre. The festival’s 2024 edition highlighted films addressing AI and technological themes. ## Vegas Movie Awards™ Recognition The Vegas Movie Awards™ operates as part of the Film Festival Alliance and calls itself ‘The Most Caring Film Festival Ever’. The festival serves as an IMDb qualifier, providing global recognition for independent filmmakers and screenwriters. Winners join an alumni network spanning more than 80 countries, connecting emerging talent with established industry professionals. The festival has recognised talent that went on to achieve major international awards. Italian participation in international screenwriting competitions has grown. The [2024 Bari Artificial Intelligence Film Festival](https://raicinema.it/raicinema/news/2024/10/Lintelligenza-artificiale-generativa-nel-cinema-protagonista-al-BAIFF-2024-b67438e6-7241-40a7-a6d5-1a6e658026c4.html) showed Italy’s commitment to exploring AI themes in cinema. Events like the Venice Film Festival have increasingly featured films examining technology’s impact on human experience. ## Building on Italian Genre Traditions The success of ‘River’ fits within a pattern of Italian screenwriters and filmmakers engaging with speculative fiction themes. Italian cinema has historically excelled in genre filmmaking, from giallo thrillers to spaghetti westerns. Contemporary creators are extending this tradition into [science fiction territory](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/soul-downloading-8230-please-wait). The [Trieste Science+Fiction Festival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trieste_Science+Fiction_Festival) continues to serve as a launching pad for Italian genre work, awarding prizes like the prestigious Méliès d’Argent for best European genre features. This infrastructure suggests Italian creators have both institutional support and creative ambition to compete internationally in speculative fiction. Film festivals worldwide have noted increased Italian participation in categories exploring AI, virtual reality and metaverse concepts. This suggests ‘River’s’ success isn’t isolated but part of a developing movement. ## What This Means Going Forward The ‘River’ win shows Italian screenwriters can tackle universally relevant themes whilst competing against international talent. The script’s focus on consciousness fusion and existential threat speaks to contemporary anxieties about [technology’s role in defining humanity](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/interview-with-a-futurist-dan-vencu-on-the-future-of-ai). The Vegas Movie Awards™ continues accepting submissions through their [official website](https://www.vegasmovieawards.com/). Those interested in learning more about ‘River’ can find additional details on the [IMDb professional listing](https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm12541311) for Giuseppe De Vuono. Italian creators like De Vuono and Merigo are gaining international recognition for exploring technology and consciousness themes. They’re helping establish Italy as a significant voice in contemporary speculative fiction cinema.