The San Diego International Fringe Festival celebrated its fifth anniversary by leaning heavily into its “International” middle name. With artists traveling from as far as Italy, Japan, and Australia, the festival transformed the downtown corridor into a global stage for 11 days of unfiltered creativity.

This year was defined by a shift toward socially conscious theater and high-concept physical performance, proving that the Fringe was not just about the spectacle, but about deep, resonant storytelling.

2017 Festival Highlights

• The Fifth Year Milestone: To celebrate five years of Fringe, the festival expanded its “Central Hub” at the Lyceum Theatre, creating a more robust “Fringe Lounge” for artists and fans to connect.
• The Italian Connection: The festival saw a significant influx of European talent, particularly from the Roma Fringe Festival, bringing a distinct avant-garde flavor to the San Diego stages.
• Family-Friendly Fringe: While known for its “edgy” content, 2017 saw a growth in “Family Fringe” programming, utilizing outdoor spaces to engage younger audiences and their parents.

2017 FESTIVAL AWARDS:
(Theatre / Arts)

Award Recipients

• Outstanding Production: The Lioness (bkSOUL).
• Outstanding International Artist: Lifegate (Giorgia Mazzucato, Italy).
• Best of Bi-National: The Gipsy and the Bird (The Gipsy and the Bird/Mexico).
• Artists’ Pick: The Mermaid Who Learned How to Fly (San Diego Circus Center).
• Spirit of the Fringe: Fruit Fly (The Paper Birds).

Standing Ovations & Credits

The 2017 standout was undoubtedly bkSOUL’s The Lioness, a stunning fusion of hip-hop, spoken word, and dance that captured the “Outstanding Production” title. Additionally, Giorgia Mazzucato solidified the festival’s international prestige with Lifegate, a minimalist masterpiece that won over both critics and the artist community.