This newsletter has been created on the occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the publication of the first two volumes of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, 29 July 1954, and The Two Towers, 29 november 1954). For this reason the Italian Tolkien Society (STI) and the British Tolkien Society, together with other Tolkien associations all over the world, have decided to organise an international event called Tolkien's Fifty Years.

The newsletter aims to bring its subscribers up-to-date on the events Waiting for The Return of the King ("Aspettando Il Ritorno del Re") in Rome and Tolkien's Fifty Years in Brussels, as well as on other initiatives - such as exhibitions, concerts and conferences on Tolkien - organised both in Italy and in the rest of the world by recognised Tolkien Societies or by individual associations that have been inspired by the Professor's work.

Tolkien's Fifty Years (TFY) will not end with the event that will take place in Brussels on 22-28 March 2004. Indeed, It aims to become a logo for all those initiatives, both in Italy and in other parts of the world, that wish to celebrate The Lord of the Ring's 50th anniversary. If you wish to obtain permission to use the logo, you can send an email message to tolkien.bruxelles@email.it, applying for permission to use it and including a short description of the project you intend to carry out. The application can be made by individuals, Tolkien associations and cultural associations in general. Obtaining permission is free for the organisers of any event and allows the initiative to be broadcast on all TFY information channels.

Waiting for The Return of the King ("Aspettando Il Ritorno del Re") is one of the main initiatives of TFY. It is held in Rome' Villa Celimontana from 21 December 2003 to 25 January 2004 and organised by the Italian Tolkien Society (STI), ASI Ciao, Regione Lazio and Rome Library Council. Partners of the event are RAI SAT, the publisher Bompiani, Caltanet Cinema, Games Workshop and Red Carpet Tours. The event includes an international exhibition of original works of art inspired by Tolkien's fictional world, seminars, concerts and film showings.
http://www.tolkien50years.com

The event will be held in Brussels on 22-28 March 2004 and will be hosted by the European Parliament (for conferences and seminars), the Exhibition Hall of the Italian Cultural Institute (for exhibitions) and the theatre of the same Institute (for concerts and theatrical performances). It has already obtained the sponsorship of the Italian office of the European Parliament, the Presidency of the Italian Council of Ministers, the Embassy of New Zealand in Italy, the Italian Ministry of Communication, the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Italian Cultural Institute in Brussels, Regione Lazio,the International Film Festival of Flanders/Gand, the New Zealand Post. Partners of the event are RAI SAT, the publisher Bompiani, Caltanet Cinema, Games Workshop and Red Carpet Tours

Villa Celimontana
Opening times: 10.00-20.00
Images from Middle-earth (*Immagini dalla Terra di Mezzo*)
International exhibition of original works of art inspired by Tolkien's fictional world.
Look at the photographs of the Exhibition:
http://www.tolkien50years.com/celimontana.htm
Look at the biographies of the artists and their works:
http://www.tolkien50years.com/mostra.htm
Info: info@asiciaoroma.it

Villa Celimontana
h. 17:00
Seminar: The Best Film Trilogy of All Time?
With Francesco Alт (Il Messaggero), Daniela Catelli (Coming Soon), Oronzo Cilli (Person in charge of TFY), and Davide Perino (the Italian voice of Frodo). The discussion will be chaired by Robert Bernocchi (Caltanet).
Free entrance
Info: r.bernocchi@caltanet.it

Villa Celimontana
h. 10:30
Meeting between the Italian Tolkien Society (STI) and the UK Tolkien Society, the two biggest Tolkien associations in the world. With representatives of STI and of the UK Tolkien Society. Open to the public.
Info: tolkien.bruxelles@email.it

Sala delle Bandiere -European Parliament (Via 4 Novembre,Rome)
h. 15:30
1. Official presentation of Tolkien's Fifty Years (Brussels, 22-28 March 2004).
2. Presentation of The Lord of the Ring's revised editino, published by Bompiani with the collaboration of the Italian Tolkien Society (STI). With . Ad oggi hanno confermato la loro presenza: Oronzo CILLI (Person in charge of Tolkien's Fifty Years), Paolo PARON (President of the STI), Pat e Trevor REYNOLDS (Tolkien Society UK), H. E. Julie MACKENZIE (Ambassador of New Zealand in Italy), On. Roberto BIGLIARDO (European MP), On. Fabio RAMPELLI (Councilor of Regione Lazio), Adolfo MORGANTI (essayist), Giuseppe FESTA (composer), Gianfranco DE TURRIS (essayist and journalist), Marco RESPINTI (essayist).
Free entrance
Info: tolkien.bruxelles@email.it

International Recordings - Via Urbana, Rome
h. 19:00
howing of The Return of the King, third and final episode of Peter Jackson's film trilogy (reserved for the authorities).
The programme of the evening is organised by the Embassy of New Zealand in Italy, the Italian Tolkien Society, Medusa Films and Asi Ciao.
Before the showing there will be a reception offered by H. E. Julie MACKENZIE, Ambassador of New Zealand in Italy.
By invitation only.
Info: tolkien.bruxelles@email.it

The President of the Sociedad Tolkien Peruana (Peruvian Tolkien Society), has informed Mr Oronzo Cilli (Person in charge of TFY), that a representative of the STP, Mr Jimmy CHAVEZ, will take part in the Brussels event. He has also expressed the wish that the collaboration between the two Tolkien associations will continue after the Brussels event.

After the request for sponsorship of TFY sent to Prime Minister BLAIR on 23 December 2003, the Person in charge of TFY has received a letter from 10, Downing Street, London, signed by Miss Samina Melik. The letter says that "The Prime Minister has asked me to thank you for your recent letter. Mr. Blair would like to reply personally, but as you well appreciate he receives thousands of letters every week, and this is not possible. The matter you raise is the responsibility of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, therefore he has asked that your lette be forwarded to that Department so that they may reply to you on his behalf. Yours sincerely, Miss Samina MALIK."

TFY has reached an agreement with the International Film Festival of Flanders/Gand, organiser of Howard Shore's concert of 19 April 2004 in Antwerp. Shore will perform The Lord of the Rings Symphony - a concert that will revisit the soundtracks that he composed for the film trilogy directed by Peter Jackson. The agreement involves a promotional exchange between the two events with the possibility for a delegation of TFY to attend Shore's concert in the VIP sector and meet the composer for a Tolkien-based "chat". Further details will be given at the presentation of TFY on 19 January in Rome. About the concert:
http://www.filmfestival.be Info: tolkien.bruxelles@email.it

The New Zealand Post has decided to sponsor TFY. The agreement involves the supply of stamps and other postal items produced by NZP on the occasion of the release of The Return of the King to be exhibited in Brussels during TFY. The person in charge of NZP's Marketing, Bodil HUITFELDT, has written to Oronzo CILLI that "as agreed I send you our LOTR-based products. I hope you will have a lot of success in your event, and I look forward to learning more about it. Best wishes, Bodil".
Info: http://www.stamps.co.nz

Giuseppe Festa and his group Lingalad, after their participation as special guests to The Gathering of the Fellowship in Toronto last December, will be guests of TFY in Brussels. Giuseppe will present a few extrats from his CD "Voci dalla Terra di Mezzo" (Voices from Middle-earth), inspired by The Lord of the Rings, sung partly in Italian and partly in English. For his music in bardic style Festa has received the compliments of Priscilla Tolkien, the daughter of the late Professor.
Info: http://www.lingalad.com