On the 110th anniversary of the birth of Paolo Budinich—the visionary physicist who transformed Trieste into the “City of Science”—the Trieste International Foundation for the Progress and Freedom of Science (FIT) is proud to have contributed to the creation of the documentary “Budinich: The Pirate of Science“.
Produced by the independent production house ReBel Film by Sara Svagelj and Ettore Spezza, the film had its national premiere at the Miela Theatre on Thursday, September 24, serving as the opening event for the 2026 edition of Trieste Next. Following its broadcast on Rai 3 FVG, the documentary will soon be available for streaming on the RaiPlay platform.
Paolo Budinich and FIT: giving “body” to the Foundation
Narrating Budinich’s foresight means retracing the key milestones that led to the birth of the renowned “Trieste System” (ICTP, SISSA, Area Science Park, Immaginario Scientifico). Within this extraordinary vision, FIT holds a central place.
Established in 1980 through the evolution of the pre-existing Citizen Committee (Comitato Cittadino), the Trieste International Foundation owes its transition from a concept of intellectual cooperation to a solid, operational structure directly to the energy and determination of Paolo Budinich. Budinich played a decisive role in shaping FIT’s institutional framework and concrete identity, transforming it into the strategic vehicle aimed at promoting freedom of research and consolidating Trieste’s international role as a “bridge city” between cultures and scientists worldwide.
A journey through historical memory
The feature-length documentary unfolds through the intimate memories of his children, Marco and Piero, alongside testimonies from distinguished colleagues and friends from the Trieste Scientific System, including Erio Tosatti, Stefano Fantoni, Marina Cobal, Serena Mizzan, and science communicator Paola Rodari.
The documentary also preserves a deeply moving testimony from theoretical physicist Daniele Amati (longtime Director of SISSA, who passed away in August 2026).
School initiative: FIT brings the documentary to students
To pass this extraordinary legacy on to younger generations, FIT is actively promoting an educational initiative tailored for local schools. Starting in November, the Foundation will offer schools dedicated screenings of the 55-minute documentary directly for classes and students.
The goal is to allow young people to discover how Trieste became the “City of Science,” sparking their interest in STEM disciplines while deepening crucial topics in civic education and international cooperation.
Upon request from teachers, screenings can be accompanied by discussion sessions and Q&A panels led by experts.
Teachers and school coordinators interested in joining the initiative or receiving further information can contact the FIT secretariat at fit@fondazioneinternazionale.org.