Archaeology vs. Hollywood

From the big screen to historical artefacts, where does archaeological reality end and cinematic fiction begin? To explore this fascinating frontier, from Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 August 2026, the MegaMuseo – Aosta Contemporary Archaeological Museum is hosting the second edition of the festival “Archaeology vs Hollywood”.

The initiative is organised by the Aosta Valley Regional Department for Education, Culture and Identity Policies, in collaboration with the AIACE VDA association (Italian Association of Friends of Art-House Cinema in the Aosta Valley).

A journey through myths, curses and lost civilisations

The programme offers a journey through five films, ranging from the black-and-white masterpieces of the 1930s to the pop blockbusters of the early 2000s. The aim is to compare genuine historical artefacts with the Hollywood narrative of lost civilisations, curses and myths reimagined by the cinema.

Guests and experts

All screenings will take place at the MegaMuseo at 8.45 pm:

• Tuesday 11 August (Opening): The Egyptologist was a special guest Divine Centore, who will guide the audience through the historical background of the Egyptian myth.
• 12–15 August: The films will be introduced by the archaeologist and science communicator Cinzia Joris, for a critical commentary on the intersection of archaeology and cinema.

The full programme of screenings

• 11 August: The Mummy by Stephen Sommers (USA, 1999) – Running time: 120’
• 12 August: Atlantis – The Lost Empire by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise (USA, 2001) – Running time: 95’
• 13 August: The Mummy by Karl Freund (USA, 1932) – Running time: 73’
• 14 August: A Night at the Museum by Shawn Levy (USA, 2006) – Running time: 108’
• 15 August: The Crazy History of the World by Mel Brooks (USA, 1981) – Running time: 92’

Useful information

• Ticket price: 3 euros.
• Reservations: Book by calling the following number 0165 552420 (Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00 – 18.00).