News

Antonio Vivaldi, the Italian Baroque composer and violinist who penned “The Four Seasons,” will be portrayed in “Primavera,” the feature debut of Damiano Michieletto, a leading opera director. Memento International has boarded the film which begins shooting this month in Rome and Venice.

“Primavera” was penned by Ludovica Rampoldi, the award-winning screenwriter of movies such as “The Traitor” and “Gomorrah – the series,” among others. The script is loosely adapted from Tiziano Scarpa’s critically acclaimed novel “Stabat Mater.”

Set in 18th century Venice, “Primavera” follows Cecilia, a 20-year-old violin virtuoso who lives at the Pièta orphanage. Despite her talent, Cecilia remains confined within the orphanage, knowing that marriage is the only way out. Yet, her life takes a turn after she meets Antonio Vivaldi, a brilliant and ambitious composer who becomes the new violin teacher. Guided by Vivaldi and his music, Cecilia “finds the strength to challenge the destiny that once seemed inevitable,...

Under the leadership of new CEO Annamaria Morelli, The Apartment — the Fremantle-owned outfit which will attend Venice with three hot titles including Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer” — is set to produce the next project by emerging Italian director Carolina Cavalli.

Cavalli – whose first feature “Amanda” went to Venice and Toronto – is set to shoot a follow-up titled “The Kidnapping of Arabella” that will see her reteam with “Amanda” protagonist Benedetta Porcaroli in the lead role.

Similarly to “Amanda” – an absurdist arrested development comedy that traveled widely and garnered critical praise – “The Kidnapping of Arabella” will see Porcaroli play a young female misfit named Holly who “is convinced that she is the wrong version of herself until she meets a 7-year-old girl who makes her change her mind,” according to the film’s provided synopsis.

“I think lonely people who come together to solve a problem have already solved the biggest one,...

The world premiere of Mitzi Peirone’s horror film “Saint Clare” will open the Taormina Film Festival, this year celebrating its 70th anniversary edition. The adaptation of Don Roff’s novel stars Bella Thorne, Ryan Phillippe, Frank Whaley and Rebecca De Mornay. It’s the first of four world premieres to screen at the outdoor Teatro Antico in the Sicilian town, which looks out towards Mount Etna, an active volcano, to the West.

Lee Isaac Chung’s highly anticipated remake/sequel “Twisters,” distributed by Warner Bros. in Italy, is blowing into town for its local premiere. Starring “Normal People’s” Daisy Edgar Jones and “Hitman” star Glen Powell, the “Minari” director’s film is a reupping of Jan de Bont’s mid-90s classic, with a James Cameron-esque title promising to multiply the mayhem.

Marco Mueller, who has taken over as the festival’s artistic director (see interview), commented...

Cannes Film Festival (May 14-25) has added a rendez-vouz with Italian actor and filmmaker Valeria Golino to its programme as well as two animated features and the first Cinema de la Plage titles.

Golino, whose credits include Rain Man and Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, will premiere the first episode of her new series The Art Of Joy followed by an in conversation event. The series, which will screen in Italian cinemas in July, stars Jasmine Trinca, Tecla Insolia and Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi and follows a Sicilian woman in the early 1900s who dreams of a better life.

The actor...

The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled fresh news details about its 77th edition (May 14-25), including a Rendez-vous with…Valeria Golino event.

The Italian actress and director, whose 40-year career spans more than 100 acting credits, broke into directing just over a decade ago and has been invited to Cannes Official Selection twice with films Miele (2013) and Euforia (2018).

She has recently completed The Art of Joy. The adaptation of Goliarda Sapienza’s novel L’arte della gioia, was shot as a series but there is also feature-length cut which will release in cinemas in Italy later this year. The cast features Jasmine Trinca, Tecla Insolia and Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi.

The first episode of the series will be previewed, followed by a dialogue between Valeria Golino and the audience.

The festival also announced the first titles selected for its free Cinéma de la Plage screenings: Daniel Burman’s Transmitzvah, Jul’s Silex and the City,...

Diane Kruger To Be Feted At Zurich

Diane Kruger is set to receive Zurich’s Golden Eye Award during the fest’s latest edition, running September 28-October 8. Kruger will accept the award on October 2 and present her latest pic Visions, by French filmmaker Yann Gozlan. In the pic, Kruger plays a married airline captain whose life flies out of control when she bumps into an old flame. Previous winners of Zurich’s Golden Eye Award include Eddie Redmayne, Iris Berben, Kristen Stewart, Jake Gyllenhaal, John Malkovich, Helen Hunt and Olivia Colman. “Thank you Zurich Film Festival for this wonderful recognition,” Kruger said. “I’m honored and proud to be part of the impressive list of past honorees. I look forward to returning to Zurich and celebrating with all of you in October.”

Asian Achievers Awards Sets Shortlist

Exclusive: The shortlist for this year’s Asian Achievers Awards has been revealed.

For Heavens Sake

“Heavens: The Boy and His Robot,” a Singapore-produced movie, will have its world and commercial premiere in Japanese cinemas this November. The film is Singapore’s first live-action feature film of the mecha genre, a genre of Japanese manga and anime that features or focuses on mechanical innovations such as robots and cyborgs.

The film is an action-adventure drama with offbeat humor, following the journey of a struggling young pilot, Kai, and his fighter mecha, Little Dragon. Set against a backdrop of epic galactic warfare, the movie explores Kai’s dream of joining the Mecha Corps to bring peace to a war-torn world and the unique friendship that develops between him and his mecha.

The film is very much the product of Rich Ho, who serves as producer, director, writer, film music composer, art director, set designer, director of photography and co-visual effects supervisor.

Distribution in Japan...

“The White Lotus” star Sabrina Impacciatore is ready to dive into her next project.

Broadcasting network Sky Italia brought out the confetti on Tuesday to celebrate its 20th anniversary and unveiled a fresh array of upcoming original series’. Among the titles was a second season of the Italian adaptation of “Call My Agent”, which Impacciatore will join.

Read More: Jennifer Coolidge Reveals How ‘Self-Hate’ Almost Cost Her ‘White Lotus’ Role

The Italian actress was hailed as a series stand-out in the second season of “The White Lotus”. She will be swapping her role as a hotel manager to enter the chaotic and demanding industry of talent agents.

Season one of the Italian adaptation premiered in January and starred Paolo Sorrentino, Bruni Tedeschi and Claud Santamaria.

Read More: Jennifer Coolidge Reveals Hopes For ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3

The acclaimed original series “Call My Agent” originated from the innovative minds at Mediawan,...

Sky Italia celebrated its 20-year anniversary on Tuesday by announcing a rich slate of upcoming originals, including a second season of the Italian adaptation of “Call My Agent,” which will see “The White Lotus” star Sabrina Impacciatore joining the cast.

Impacciatore’s agent is Gersh and her management is Mgmt.

The Sky Italia originals slate comprises previously announced high-end drama “M. Son of the Century” by British director Joe Wright, alongside less lavish shows in various stages – most of which have international potential. It underscores how the Italian unit of the Comcast-owned pay-tv service continues to be a major Italian industry driver.

While Sky’s German unit, which is believed to be up for sale, has put production on pause, Sky Italia is cranking out Italian originals through the platform’s Sky Studios unit at a steady pace, showing no signs of a slowdown.

“We are at the level...

Italian actor and director Valeria Golino is set to make her debut as a TV series director with “The Art of Joy,” an erotically charged female empowerment drama set in early 20th-century Sicily and produced by Sky Studios.

Golino’s high-end period skein about a Sicilian young woman named Modesta, born into an impoverished family in early 1900 and driven by a strong belief that she’s destined for a better life, was announced during a Sky Italy presentation in Rome where the pay-tv operator unveiled its upcoming lineup of 60 Italian originals – series and films – for 2022, most of which have been already announced.

The presentation’s standout, revealed for the first time, is “The Art of Joy,” which is based on an epic, and highly erotic, feminist novel by the late Italian author and actor Goliarda Sapienza.

“Art of Joy” has been a longtime passion project for Golino, who was very...