Festivals

Minerva Pictures at the 19th Rome Film Festival!

Minerva Pictures is proud to participate in the 19th Rome Film Fest (October 16–27, 2024) with a lineup that blends new stories and restorations of great classics of Italian cinema.

Among the new titles presented is Miss Fallaci, the highly anticipated series directed by Luca Ribuoli, Giacomo Martelli, and Alessandra Gonnella. The series focuses on an untold chapter of Oriana Fallaci’s life, with a stunning Miriam Leone in the lead role. Set between the 1950s and 60s, the series follows the young Fallaci, torn between Italy’s Dolce Vita and Hollywood’s star system, as she establishes herself as a journalist. Inspired by her books I sette peccati di Hollywood and Penelope alla guerra, this is a production of Paramount Television International Studios and Minerva Pictures in association with Redstring.

In the Progressive Cinema section, Reading Lolita in Tehran by Eran Riklis debuts. Based on the international bestseller by Azar Nafisi, the film tells an intense, authentic story about the power of culture as a tool for personal emancipation, particularly for women, under Iran’s regime. Through the teaching of Western literature, the protagonist creates a space for intellectual resistance against the rising influence of radical Islamic catechism. With a stellar ensemble cast, including Golshifteh Farahani, Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, and Mina Kavani, this co-production of Minerva Pictures, Rosamont, Eran Riklis Production, and Topia Communications will soon hit theaters with FilmClub Distribuzione and Minerva Pictures.

Ciao Bambino, the directorial debut of Edgardo Pistone, tells the story of Attilio, a young Neapolitan caught between his budding love for a young prostitute and the duty to settle his father’s debt after he is released from prison. The film, produced by Minerva Pictures, Bronx Film, Anemone Film, and Mosaicon Film, was created with support from Italy’s Ministry of Culture and the Campania Region Film Commission. Presented in the Freestyle section, it will soon be released by FilmClub Distribuzione and Minerva Pictures.

But it’s not just new films! Minerva is thrilled to present a 4K restoration of Lina Wertmüller’s The Seduction of Mimi (1972), starring Giancarlo Giannini and Mariangela Melato. A cornerstone of Italian comedy, this grotesque and provocative classic was nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes and won accolades at the David di Donatello, Nastri d’Argento, and Golden Globe Awards. The restoration was curated by the National Museum of Cinema in collaboration with Minerva Pictures, using negatives from Cinecittà Studios and the Turin Film Archive.

Finally, as we remember Alain Delon, we are excited to present a 4K restoration of Borsalino (1970), directed by Jacques Deray. A cult film in French polar cinema, it brings together two unforgettable icons: Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo. Set in 1930s Marseille, the film follows two gangsters caught up in power struggles and crime. This restoration was produced by Paramount Pictures.

Join us in Rome for an unforgettable cinematic experience, and we can’t wait to share these stories with you!

#RoFF19