Apparat, double appearance at Videocittà (Rome, July 10-11-12)

After unveiling the water theme and the new features of its ninth edition, Videocittà, the Festival of Vision and Digital Culture created by Francesco Rutelli with artistic direction by Anna Lea Antolini and creative direction by Michele Lotti, completes the Watercult 2026 programme – at the Gazometro in Rome from 10 to 12 July – announcing the arrival of German composer, musician and producer Apparat, who will take part in a special double appearance: scoring the installation In Lympha, conceived and produced by Eni, and playing an exclusive DJ set created especially for the Festival, scheduled for Saturday 11 July.

Alongside the German producer, the Festival presents UNDA, the new monumental installation produced by Eni that will light up the Gazometro G4, as well as the works and artists rounding out the Videoarte programme, the artistic-scientific project Ocean Suite created by CMCC, and the collaboration with Filmmaster dedicated to telling the story of the Closing Ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics.

Apparat, born Sascha Ring, has spent the last twenty years redefining the boundaries between electronic music, orchestral composition and vocal writing, developing a sonic language capable of combining experimentation, emotional intensity and timbral research. Winner of the David di Donatello for Best Original Score for his work on Capri-Revolution by Mario Martone, Grammy-nominated for the album LP5 and composer of the score for the cult series Dark, he has brought his music to the stages of the world's most important festivals, from Sónar to Primavera Sound, establishing himself as one of the most authoritative voices in contemporary electronic music. At Videocittà 2026 the artist will take part in a special double appearance: his iconic track Black Water, reinterpreted in a new version created for the track's fifteenth anniversary, will become part of In Lympha, the large-scale immersive installation conceived and produced by Eni in collaboration with Videocittà, which will take over the spaces of Opificio 41 for the entire duration of the Festival, interpreting water as origin and generative principle: that which nourishes, sets in motion, and from which every form evolves and expands. Added to this is a special DJ set on Saturday 11 July on the Gazometro's Main Stage, created specifically for Videocittà and conceived as a space of total artistic and expressive freedom spanning electronic music, ambient and experimentation.

Among the main new features of this edition is also UNDA, the new site-specific light installation produced by Eni for Videocittà and conceived by Visioni Parallele and Niulab, with executive production by Eventitaliani. For the first time, the Gazometro G4 is transformed into a work visible only from the outside, becoming a new beacon of light in the Capital's urban landscape. Through a composition of light and lasers inspired by the perpetual motion of water, UNDA reinterprets one of the most iconic symbols of contemporary industrial archaeology, turning it into an urban lighthouse in constant metamorphosis. A flow of luminous waves runs through the structure, evoking the rhythm of the sea and its ability to shape the landscape over time.

The Videoarte section, curated by Damiana Leoni and Rä di Martino, also expands – it has always been one of the festival's cornerstone sections. Alongside the already announced presence of Adrian Paci on 11 July, who will present the works Turn On, Di queste luci si servirà la notte and The Column, on 10 July there will be screenings of works by some of the most interesting figures on the contemporary international art scene, dedicated to the theme of water. There will be space for Shahzia Sikander, the Pakistani artist known for subverting the traditions of Central and South Asian miniature painting, with the hand-painted cinematic tableau 3 to 12 Nautical Miles, on the stories of trade, colonialism and power that have marked the past and present; for the Milan-based collective exploring the relationship between image, landscape and perception, FLATFORM – already known for exhibitions at MAXXI, Centre Pompidou and Fondazione Prada, as well as an Academy Awards nominee in 2021 – who, in dialogue with the curators, will present the work Quello che verrà è solo una promessa: a long single-take shot recounting the effects of rising waters. Then there is multidisciplinary Argentine artist Cecilia Bengolea, who investigates the relationship between body, movement and environment through contemporary dance and popular practices, with the black-and-white work Lighting Dance, in which she explores the relationship between atmospheric electricity, music and movement; and finally Monira Al Qadiri, the Kuwaiti artist who has exhibited in international contexts such as the Guggenheim Bilbao, the Palais de Tokyo and the 2022 Venice Biennale's central exhibition "The Milk of Dreams", with Diver, a story about pearl diving in the Persian Gulf, which sustained the region's economy for centuries. 

Water as a natural, climatic and scientific phenomenon is instead at the heart of OS Ocean Suite, the artistic-scientific project created by CMCC – the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change – together with Nova System Academy and Planetaria. Through the sonification of over seventy years of climate data linked to the ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) phenomenon, the project – positioned on the access ramp to Gazometro G3 for the whole duration of the Festival – turns the invisible dialogue between ocean and atmosphere into an immersive soundscape, using music to make perceptible the deep connections that regulate the planet's climate balance. A meeting of scientific research and artistic creation that translates data, numbers and climate models into a sensory experience.

Tickets 

For the 2026 edition, Videocittà is introducing a new accessibility policy for the Festival, aiming to widen its audience and make participation in the artistic, immersive and performative experiences at the Gazometro Ostiense even more open.

Tickets will be available at the following prices:

•⁠  ⁠Daily Ticket: €20

• 3-Day Full Pass: €50

•⁠  ⁠Free entry for children under 12

People with disabilities who require an assistant will also be able to request a complimentary ticket for their companion, following the procedures indicated on the Festival's official channels.

A choice that confirms Videocittà's commitment to promoting an ever more inclusive, accessible and participatory contemporary cultural experience.

–          Entrance: Via del Commercio 9/11 – Rome

–          Doors and box office open to the public from 7:00 pm

Videocittà invites you to reach the venue well in advance, on foot or using sustainable mobility.

Useful links
videocittà.com
instagram.com/videocitta
facebook.com/videocittafestival
linkedin.com/company/videocitta/
tiktok.com/@videocitta

Videocittà Watercult 2026 Calendar

Friday, July 10, 2026

Opificio 60 nord // waterimmersion – Immersive installation

19:00 – 01:00 Nature’s Computility by Cao Yuxi in collaboration with eFM

Tettoia // Art at the Gazometro

19:00 – 02:00 Riflessi curated by Eni

Giardino // watersoundlight – Digital edu

19:00 – 21:00 Confluences by Rufa & Saint Louis College of Music

19:00 – 01:00 Atlante by NABA Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti

22:00 – 01:00 Egeria by IED Istituto Europeo di Design

Giardino e Opificio 36A // waterinteraction – Interactive installation

21:00 – 01:00 Maelstrom by Lake Heckaman curated by Luca Martinelli powered by RNMW

21:00 – 01:00 Particle Catharsis by Giuseppe La Spada

Anfiteatro // watereality – Virtual reality

9:00 PM – 12:00 AM In Pinus produced by Impersive for Videocittà as part of the European project CO-VISION in collaboration with the Tenuta Presidenziale di Castelporziano

Gazometro G3 – new

On the ramp – Ocean Suite by CMCC with Nova System Academy and Planetaria

Spotlight // watereality – Virtual reality

9:00 PM – 12:00 AM Water in virtual reality VR experiences presented by Diversion

9:00 PM – 12:00 AM Sweet end of the world! VR documentary by Stefano Conca Bonizzoni selected by Rai's VR library

Gazometro G3

Terrace // watereflection – Talk, contest, video art, artworks

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Permea: The Inner Flow by Giuseppe La Spada

8:00 PM – 8:45 PM AQUA by and with Francesco Rutelli

8:45 PM – 9:15 PM IGPDecaux Graphic AWARDS award ceremony

9:15 PM – 10:00 PM AQUA talk by Simone Arcagni with Giuseppe La Spada, N.A.I.P., vino.exe and Eki magazine10:00 PM – 11:00 PM video art  curated by Damiana Leoni and Rä di Martino featuring works by Cecilia Bengolea, Flatform, Monira Al-Qadiri, Shahzia Sikander

11:00 PM – 11:30 PM WASTED documentary directed by Tobia Passigato with Nicol Angelozzi, Eugenio Franceschini, Luciano Miele, produced by Stellantis and Giffoni Innovation Hub.

11:30 PM – 12:00 AM artworks – Invisible Ecologies: Tevere by Tommaso Cherubini

00:00 – 00:30 artwork – Confluence produced by Signal as part of the European project CO-VISION

Opificio 41 // waterimmersion – Immersive installation – new

9:45 PM – 1:00 AM IN LYMPHA, site-specific installation with music by Apparat, conceived and produced by Eni in collaboration with Videocittà.

Gazometro G2 // waterimmersion – Immersive installation

10:00 PM – 1:00 AM Water: always the same, always different by Giuseppe La Spada

10:00 PM – 10:30 PM live performance by Francesca Heart and Amanda Lana 

Main stage / waterfall – AV music

10:30 – 11:00 PM waterfall

11:00 – 11:40 PM AV Music – Sara Persico & Mika Oki Live AV

12:00 – 2:00 AM AV Music – Mace Dj set AV

Gazometro G4 – new

10:00 PM – 1:00 AM UNDA is a site-specific light installation produced by Eni. Conceived by Visioni Parallele and Niulab with executive production by  Eventitaliani.

Saturday, 11 July 2026

Opificio 60 nord // waterimmersion – Immersive installation

19:00 – 01:00 Nature’s Computility by Cao Yuxi in collaboration with eFM

Tettoia // Art at the Gazometro

7:00 PM – 2:00 AM Riflessi curated by Eni

Giardino // watersoundlight – Digital edu

7:00 – 9:00 PM Confluences by Rufa & Saint Louis College of Music

19:00 – 01:00 Atlante by NABA Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti

22:00 – 01:00 Egeria by IED Istituto Europeo di Design

Giardino e Opificio 36A // waterinteraction – Interactive installation

21:00 – 01:00 Maelstrom by Lake Heckaman curated by Luca Martinelli powered by RNMW

9:00 PM – 1:00 AM Particle Catharsis by Giuseppe La Spada

Anfiteatro // watereality – Virtual reality

21:00 – 00:00 In Pinus produced by Impersive for Videocittà as part of the European project CO-VISION in collaboration with the Tenuta presidenziale di Castelporziano

Gazometro G3

On the Ramp – Ocean Suite by CMCC with Nova System Academy and Planetaria

Close-up // watereality

9:00 PM – 12:00 AM Water in virtual reality VR experiences presented by Diversion

9:00 PM – 12:00 AM Sweet end of the world! VR documentary by Stefano Conca Bonizzoni selected by Rai's VR library

Gazometro G3

Terrace // watereflection – Talk, contest, video art, artworks

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Permea: The Inner Flow by Giuseppe La Spada

20:00 – 21:00 AQUA by and with Francesco Rutelli

21:00 – 21:15 FILMMASTER – new releases

21:15 – 22:00 AQUA talk by Simone Arcagni with Valentina Tanni, Siamounmagazine, Valerio Ferrara

22:00 – 23:00 video art by and with Adrian Paci, curated by Damiana Leoni and Rä di Martino

23:00 – 23:30 artworks – Invisible Ecologies: Tevere by Tommaso Cherubini

23:30 – 00:00 artwork – Confluence produced by Signal as part of the European project CO-VISION

Opificio 41 // waterimmersion – Immersive installation – new

9:45 PM – 1:00 AM IN LYMPHA, site-specific installation with music by Apparat, conceived and produced by Eni in collaboration with Videocittà.

Gazometro G2 // waterimmersion – Immersive installation

10:00 PM – 1:00 AM Water: always the same, always different by Giuseppe La Spada

10:00 PM – 10:30 PM live performance by Francesca Heart and Amanda Lana 

Main stage // waterfall – AV music

21:30 – 22:00 waterfall

22:00 – 23:30 Apparat (DJ) – new addition

23:40 – 00:20 Nziria Live

00:30 – 02:00 Populous Live AV

Gazometro G4 – new

10:00 PM – 1:00 AM UNDA is a site-specific light installation produced by Eni. Conceived by Visioni Parallele and Niulab with executive production by  Eventitaliani.

Sunday 12 July 2026 

Opificio 60 nord // waterimmersion – Immersive installation

19:00 – 00:00 Nature's Computility by Cao Yuxi in collaboration with eFM

Tettoia // Art at the Gazometro

7:00 PM – 2:00 AM Riflessi curated by Eni

Giardino // watersoundlight – Digital edu

19:00 – 21:00 Confluences by Rufa & Saint Louis College of Music

19:00 – 00:00 Atlante by NABA Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti

10:00 PM – 00:00 Egeria by IED Istituto Europeo di Design

Giardino e Opificio 36A // waterinteraction – Interactive installation

9:00 PM – 00:00 Maelstrom by Lake Heckaman curated by Luca Martinelli powered by RNMW

9:00 PM – 00:00 Particle Catharsis by Giuseppe La Spada

Anfiteatro // watereality – Virtual reality

21:00 – 00:00 In Pinus produced by Impersive for Videocittà as part of the European project CO-VISION in collaboration with the Tenuta presidenziale di Castelporziano

22.15 – 22:45 In Pinus talk with the project's protagonists

Gazometro G3

On the Ramp – Ocean Suite by CMCC with Nova System Academy and Planetaria

Close-up // watereality

9:00 PM – 12:00 AM Water in virtual reality VR experiences presented by Diversion

21:00 – 00:00 Sweet end of the world VR documentary by Stefano Conca Bonizzoni selected by Rai's VR library

Gazometro G3

Terrace // watereflection – Talk, contest, video art, artworks

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Permea: The Inner Flow by Giuseppe La Spada

20:00 – 21:00 AQUA by and with Francesco Rutelli

21:00 – 21:15 Cinecittà Event with Manuela Cacciamani

9:15 – 10:00 PM AQUA talk by Simone Arcagni with Elisabetta Modena, Matilde De Feo and Federico Ferrazza

22:00 – 22:30 artworks – Invisible Ecologies: Tevere by Tommaso Cherubini

22:30 – 23:00 artwork – Confluence produced by Signal as part of the European project CO-VISION

Opificio 41 // waterimmersion – Immersive installation – new

9:45 PM – 12:00 AM IN LYMPHA, site-specific installation with music by Apparat, conceived and produced by Eni in collaboration with Videocittà.

Gazometro G2 // waterimmersion – Immersive installation

22:00 – 00:00 Water: always the same, always different by Giuseppe La Spada

10:00 PM – 10:30 PM live performance by Francesca Heart and Amanda Lana 

Main stage // waterfall – AV music

9:30 PM – 9:45 PM waterfall

9:45 PM – 10:25 PM Liminal State FREEFALL Live AV

22:30 – 00:00 Voices From The Lake Live

Gazometro G4 – new

22:00 – 01:00 UNDA is a site-specific light installation produced by Eni. Conceived by Visioni Parallele and Niulab, with executive production by  Eventitaliani.