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Ciao Bambino, Edgardo Pistone’s Debut Film, in Theaters from January 23!

20 December 2024

Ciao bambino, Edgardo Pistone‘s debut film, is finally hitting the big screens starting January 23!

Set in a vibrant and contradictory contemporary Naples, the film follows the story of Attilio, a young man faced with a difficult choice: follow his heart or take on the debts left by his father. An auteur neo-noir that deeply and authentically explores the moral dilemmas and responsibilities that mark the transition into adulthood.

Winner of the Best Debut Film Award at the 19th Rome Film Festival and the Special Jury Prize for Best Director at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Ciao bambino has garnered critical acclaim for its compelling narrative and exceptional direction.

Produced by Bronx Film, Anemone Film, Mosaicon Film, and Minerva Pictures, the film showcases the collaborative effort of some of the industry’s finest production houses.

Mark your calendars: January 23, Ciao bambino will be available in theaters through FilmClub Distribuzione and Minerva Pictures!

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“Dovecote” by Marco Perego Shortlisted for the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film

19 December 2024

We are thrilled to announce that the short film Dovecote, directed by Marco Perego, co-produced and distributed by Minerva Pictures, has been shortlisted for the Oscars in the Best Live Action Short Film category!

The short film, starring Zoe Saldana and featuring Marcello Fonte, is shot in black and white at the women’s prison of Giudecca, in the Venetian lagoon. It is an intense tale of freedom, rebirth, and redemption, explored through the story of a prisoner in the critical moments leading up to her release. Dovecote has already received widespread acclaim at the 81st Venice International Film Festival and the 60th Biennale, where it was selected for the prestigious Vatican Pavilion in collaboration with Fondazione Ente dello Spettacolo.

Coming soon to Italy!

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TWST – Things We Said Today: Andrej Ujica’s New Documentary on the Beatles Premieres Nationally at Cinema Troisi from December 20

16 December 2024

Andrej Ujica‘s new documentary, TWST – Things We Said Today, dedicated to the legend of the Beatles, will premiere nationally at Cinema Troisi with Minerva Pictures starting December 20!

Minerva Pictures and Rarovideo Channel are thrilled to announce that the new documentary TWST – Things We Said Today by Andrej Ujica, distributed by Minerva Pictures, following its official selection at the Venice International Film Festival and screenings at other major national and international festivals such as IDFA, the New York Film Festival, and the Festival dei Popoli, will have its national premiere at Cinema Troisi in Rome. The program will start on December 20 and run for five days, until December 24.

Exploring the connections between collective imagination, popular culture, and timeless myth, TWST – Things We Said Today is the result of over ten years of work and research. It is a fascinating visual reflection crafted in the unique and unmistakable style of one of contemporary cinema’s most virtuosic documentarians, blending archival footage, amateur 8mm films, animation, and fictional narratives in a surprising way.

TWST begins with the Beatles’ arrival in New York for their August 1965 concert at Shea Stadium and takes its title from a song that foreshadows the moment when the present becomes a poignant past we can neither forget nor recover. The scope gradually expands, juxtaposing interconnected realities from 1965: the New York World’s Fair, social uprisings, and the turmoil of a nation still shaken by the events in Dallas. Thousands of characters, faces, and places are brought together: every single moment is central. It’s a journey into the hidden heart of a world both vanished and tangibly present, inevitably part of the collective imagination of entire generations to this day.

Andrej Ujica, renowned for his innovative approach and ability to blend history with contemporary storytelling in previous works such as Videograms of a Revolution and The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceausescu, takes us on a unique journey through the testimonies and events that shaped an era touched by the immortal myth of one of the most iconic bands in history.

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December packed with major events for Minerva Pictures across festivals and international markets!

4 December 2024

December is packed with events for Minerva Pictures, including festivals, industry events, and national and international markets.

In recent weeks, we attended the Milano Film Network, the Torino Film Lab, and the Torino Film Industry, extraordinary platforms for the development and promotion of independent and auteur cinema, which we approach as producers, distributors, and international sellers.

From December 3 to 5, we will be attending Content London, one of the most important events in the television and digital content landscape. This is a unique opportunity in the international audiovisual sector to present our slate of projects in development to broadcasters and strategic partners and discover new stories to invest in.

At the same time, we will be present at the Asia TV Forum & Market in Singapore (December 3-6), the leading Asian market for entertainment content, with a focus on digital distribution.

On December 5, during the Giornate Professionali di Cinema di Sorrento, FilmClub Distribuzione, Minerva Pictures’ theatrical division, will present its promo reel, offering an exclusive preview of upcoming film releases for the first half of 2025. This is a must-attend event for Italian distributors and cinema exhibitors.

On December 16, we will be in Barcelona as part of the Mostra de Cinema Italià de Barcelona, a festival dedicated to promoting Italian cinema in Spain. This year, we will present The American Backyard, the latest gothic film by Pupi Avati, showcased in the official selection at Venice. It has already garnered international acclaim and will soon hit theaters in Italy.

Stay tuned for more updates!

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“Ciao Bambino” Triumphs at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival After Success at the 19th Rome Film Fest

25 November 2024

After earning the Best First Film Award at the 19th Rome Film Fest, Ciao Bambino, the debut feature by Edgardo Pistone, also won the prestigious Special Jury Prize in the First Feature Competition section at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

Set in Naples’ Rione Traiano district, the film tells the story of Attilio, a young man torn between love and loyalty to his father, recently released from prison and hounded by loan sharks. Presented in stark black-and-white, the film offers an intimate, realistic look at family complexities and the burden of paternal legacies, framed within a context of crime and despair.

The work has been praised for its bold narrative and visually striking approach, steering clear of sentimentality and stereotypes. This debut feature confirms Pistone’s artistic maturity. The cast includes Marco Adamo, Anastasia Kaletchuk, Pasquale Esposito, and Salvatore Pelliccia.

Produced by Bronx Film, Anemone Film, Mosaicon Film, and Minerva Pictures, with support from Italy’s Ministry of Culture and the Campania Region Film Commission, the film will soon hit theaters, distributed by FilmClub Distribution and Minerva Pictures.

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Minerva Pictures and Reading Lolita in Tehran for “Voices of Freedom: The Courage and Strength of Women”

On November 25, Minerva Pictures will participate in Voices of Freedom: The Courage and Strength of Women, a special initiative organized by the Presidency of the Culture Commission of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. This event commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The event, hosted at Teatro Il Parioli Costanzo in Rome, will feature a roundtable discussing the prevention of and fight against gender-based violence, with a particular focus on the courageous struggle of Iranian women for freedom. Speakers will include Federico Mollicone, President of the Culture Commission of the Chamber of Deputies; Gianluca Curti, President and CEO of Minerva Pictures and producer of Reading Lolita in Tehran; Angelo Argento, President of Cultura Italiae; and Iranian activist Parisa Nazari. Claudia Conte, a prominent advocate for human rights, will moderate the discussion.

The event will be followed by a screening of Reading Lolita in Tehran, a powerful and poignant film directed by Eran Riklis. This award-winning work, first presented at the Rome Film Fest and now in theaters, sheds light on the oppressive conditions faced by women in Iran. It narrates a story of resistance, courage, and the fight for freedom under a regime that suppresses individual liberties.

At a time when Iranian women continue to bravely oppose the brutality of the regime and moral police, this initiative aims to amplify their voices and underscore the universal and ongoing fight for women’s rights and freedom.

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“Un Natale a casa Croce”: Pupi Avati’s New Documentary at the Turin Film Festival

11 November 2024

Minerva Pictures is proud to announce that Un Natale a casa Croce, the latest documentary directed by acclaimed filmmaker Pupi Avati, will be showcased out of competition at the Turin Film Festival, now in its 42nd edition under Giulio Base’s direction.

The life of Benedetto Croce, Italian philosopher and senator, unfolds as an epic tale of survival and passion, marked by intense tragedies and rivalries from his youth. The documentary, directed by Avati and produced by Minerva Pictures in collaboration with Cinecittà Luce and Rai Documentari, delves into Croce’s political influence, intellectual brilliance, commitment to freedom, and philosophical vision.

The story begins in 1883 when a devastating earthquake in Ischia claims his parents and sister, leaving Croce to rise from tragedy with unyielding strength. His devotion to philosophy and literature serves as a bastion against loneliness and depression, transforming his pain into resolve. One defining episode of his life, which sheds light on him as a person, was his friendship with Giovanni Gentile, another intellectual of the era. Their relationship began in 1896 but fractured by the late 1920s due to opposing stances on fascism. Although Croce initially sympathized with the regime, he ultimately distanced himself, while Gentile became a fervent supporter.

During WWII, as Italy was torn apart and Florence came under Mussolini’s control, Gentile was assassinated on April 15, 1944, in front of his villa. This news reached Croce, striking him deeply, despite years of silence between the two. The event led him to ponder the absurdity of violence affecting even intellectuals. Amid Italy’s political turmoil, Croce joined the national unity government but faced harsh criticism from Palmiro Togliatti, a Communist Party leader, which created a rift among young antifascists. Through these turbulent times, Croce’s life became intertwined with Italy’s political landscape, embodying the ideological conflicts of his era. The film captures this compelling journey of a man who braved destiny, tragedies, and rivalries, emerging as a beacon of wisdom in a tumultuous period.

With Paolo Spezzaferri, Teresa Cerciello, Chiara Barassi, Roberta Geremicca, Fenicia Rocco, Sabrina Bevilacqua, and featuring Benedetta Craveri.

Join us on Tuesday, November 26, at 9:00 p.m. for the official screening, attended by director Pupi Avati, in a festival setting that continues to celebrate cinematic experimentation and research.

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Minerva Pictures at Rome Film Festival: “Reading Lolita in Teheran” and “Ciao Bambino ” win critics and audiences!

7 November 2024

We are delighted to close the 19th Rome Film Festival with three prestigious awards for two films in which we strongly believed, showcasing our ongoing commitment to high-quality independent cinema and storytelling that leaves a lasting impression.

Leggere Lolita a Teheran directed by Eran Riklis and based on the bestselling novel by Azar Nafisi, received both the FS Audience Award for Best Film and the Jury’s Special Award for Best Cast. Director Eran Riklis and the cast accepted the awards, presented by the Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri and actress Laetitia Casta.

Set in post-revolutionary Iran under Khomeini, the film tells the story of a university professor who defies the regime’s strict restrictions by organizing a clandestine literary circle. Through the reading of banned Western works like “Lolita,” a group of young women, led by a remarkable ensemble cast including Golshifteh Farahani, Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, and Mina Kavani, rediscover the power of words and free expression as they strive for emancipation in a repressive society.

A co-production by Minerva Pictures, Rosamont, Eran Riklis Production, and Topia Communications, in collaboration with Rai Cinema, United King Films, and Westend Film. In theaters from November 21 with FilmClub Distribuzione and Minerva Pictures.

Ciao Bambino the debut film by Edgardo Pistone, won the Award for Best Debut Film. Director Edgardo Pistone accepted the award from director and screenwriter Francesca Comencini.

The film provides an authentic glimpse into contemporary Naples, following Attilio, a young man torn between following his heart and facing the debts left by his father.

Produced by Minerva Pictures, Bronx Film, Anemone Film, and Mosaicon Film, Ciao Bambino will soon be released in theaters by FilmClub Distribuzione and Minerva Pictures.

A heartfelt thank you to all our partners, directors, cast, and crew who made these works possible. Look for them in theaters – they’re not to be missed!

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Minerva Pictures arrives at the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival!

6 November 2024

Once again this year, Minerva Pictures is participating in the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival, the most important sci-fi genre festival in Italy and among the most prestigious in Europe, presenting three unmissable films! It all starts on Thursday, October 31st at midnight with Monster on a Plane (2024) by Ezra Tsegaye, a horror comedy that nods to Critters and Airplane!, but with an extra dose of madness. From the exotic Mermaid Lagoon, flight 123 is headed to Hamburg, carrying Professor Singh and a mysterious creature hidden in the cargo hold. When this fierce and mysterious furball escapes and grows uncontrollably, spreading hallucinogenic gases, the entire flight descends into chaos. It will be up to the arrogant Captain James Pillow and the intrepid flight attendant Natalie to maintain calm amid screams and laughter, in a race against time wilder than Snakes on a Plane.

On Friday, November 1st, at 10 p.m., it’s the turn of Year 10 (2024), the powerful post-apocalyptic tale by Ben Goodger. In a world covered by a perpetually dark sky and toxic rains, a father and his son struggle to survive among the remnants of civilization. But their fragile existence is upended when a group of violent cannibals steals the antibiotics that keep the son’s girlfriend alive. Thus begins a dramatic and dangerous journey, between the last glimmers of humanity and the triumph of hostile nature. Coming soon exclusively on Full Action, the channel of The Film Club, Prime Video, and TIMVISION!

That same evening at midnight, Tetsuo (1989) by Shin’ya Tsukamoto closes the night, presented in the Sci-Fi Classix section. An authentic cornerstone of cyberpunk cinema; a dark and disturbing vision that redefined the boundaries of the genre, echoing the visual violence of Cronenberg and the visceral nature of Japanese manga.

We look forward to seeing you in Trieste for a weekend of cinema beyond the boundaries of imagination!

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A busy October for Minerva Pictures at International Festivals and Film Markets!

11 October 2024

October is packed with major events for Minerva Pictures, with significant participation in the top international film festivals and markets.

We begin with the Sitges Film Festival, the world’s leading event for fantasy and genre films, held in Spain from October 5 to 13. Among the Special Screenings is The American Backyard, the latest gothic noir film by Pupi Avati, based on his novel of the same name, featuring Filippo Scotti and Rita Tushingham, which received enthusiastic acclaim as the closing film of the Venice Film Festival. Produced by Minerva Pictures and DueA Film in collaboration with Rai Cinema, L’orto americano will be released in theaters in 2025, distributed by 01 Distribution. In the Brigadoon section, dedicated to underground and cult cinema, Monster on a Plane by Ezra Tsegaye will be presented, a film blending horror and comedy in a chaotic adventure on a flight plagued by terrifying creatures.

This week, we will also be attending the BFI London Film Festival, a prestigious event organized in collaboration with the British Film Institute, which annually celebrates the best in international cinema. This occasion offers our acquisitions and production team the opportunity to meet top talent and explore new creative prospects, including through the new Italy-UK Cinematic Bridge initiative, sponsored by Cinecittà and the DGCA of the MiC.

From October 14 to 18, we will be at the MIA – Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo in Rome, where on October 16th’s Comin’ Up, we will showcase some of our upcoming releases: Judas’ Gospel by Giulio Base and the documentary Our Magnificent Obsession by Marco Spagnoli, celebrating the extraordinary career of Bernardo Bertolucci and his collaboration with a group of young talents who shaped cinema history. During MIA, we will also be present at the CNA pavilion with our international sales, acquisitions, production, and digital distribution teams.

Our international activities continue with the Marché International du Film Classique in Lyon (October 15-18), where on October 15, at the Rendez-Vous Des Cataloguistes, we will present a showreel featuring our 2024-2025 restoration slate, including The Cannibals (1970) by Liliana Cavani, and two of the last works by Mario Monicelli: Looking for Paradise (1995) and Dirty Linen (1999). We will also be present with our stand at the MIFC Village at the Institut Lumière, with our Sales, Library, and Acquisition teams.

At the Rome Film Festival (October 16-27), Minerva Pictures will present five major titles in competition: Miss Fallaci, the highly anticipated series directed by Luca Ribuoli, Giacomo Martelli, and Alessandra Gonnella, focusing on an unknown period in the life of Oriana Fallaci, played by Miriam Leone; Reading Lolita in Tehran, the new film by Eran Riklis, based on the international bestseller by Azar Nafisi; Ciao bambino, the directorial debut of Edgardo Pistone; and the 4K restorations of two great classics: The Seduction of Mimi (1972) by Lina Wertmüller, featuring Giancarlo Giannini and Mariangela Melato, and Borsalino (1970), a cult French cinema polar by Jacques Deray, starring Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo.

Once again this year, our Sales, Acquisitions, Digital, and Production teams will be present at MIPCOM in Cannes (October 21-24). Here, we will present the key titles from our TV catalog, including the documentary Gianni Versace – Emperor Of Dreams by Mimmo Calopresti, along with new additions to our library. It will be an essential opportunity to discuss new productions and distributions in the fields of production, digital distribution, and television.

From October 28 to November 1, we will be at TIFFCOM in Tokyo, where we will explore new opportunities for co-production and acquisition in one of the most dynamic Asian markets, while at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (November 8-24), our international sales team will present two titles in competition: Ciao bambino by Edgardo Pistone and Io e il secco by Gianluca Santoni.

Finally, we will close the month with our regular appointment at the American Film Market in Las Vegas (November 5-10), one of the most important film markets in the world, where we will be engaged with our stand dedicated to sales, acquisitions, and production.

Lastly, it is worth noting the excellent festival journey of Pupi Avati’s The American Backyard, which after being presented at Venice 81, has been selected for the Festival do Rio (October 3-13) and the Sitges Film Festival (October 5-13), confirming the international interest in this extraordinary work.

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Minerva Pictures presents the premiere of “Noryang: Deadly Sea” at Romics 2024!

4 October 2024

At Romics 2024, the comic and entertainment fair in Rome, Minerva Pictures in collaboration with Full Action will present the exclusive preview of Noryang: Deadly Sea (2024) on Sunday, October 6th at 6:00 PM. This South Korean epic film recounts one of the most decisive naval battles in Korea’s history.

Directed by Kim Han-min, who previously achieved success with The Admiral: Roaring Currents and Hansan: Rising Dragon, Noryang – The Last Battle is the final installment of the trilogy celebrating the heroic Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a key figure in Korea’s history.

Set in 1598 during the Imjin War, the film focuses on the Battle of Noryang, a pivotal moment where the Joseon naval forces, supported by the Ming dynasty army, clash with the Japanese fleet in an attempt to prevent their retreat.

Following its Italian premiere at Romics, the film will be available for purchase or rental starting October 22 on Sky, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, and TIMVISION. Don’t miss it!

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Minerva Pictures at Lucca Comics & Games 2024!

27 September 2024

This year, Minerva Pictures will be a highlight at Lucca Comics & Games 2024 (October 30 – November 3) with two highly anticipated previews dedicated to fantasy cinema and bizarre b-movies.

On Friday, November 1 at 8:00 PM at Cinema Centrale, the Italian preview of The Primevals, the posthumous film by special effects master David W. Allen, will be presented. Distributed digitally by Minerva Pictures in collaboration with Bizzarro Movies, this film features extraordinary stop-motion work reminiscent of 1980s cinema, part of the thematic section Horror Nights at Lucca Comics & Games, a thrilling new addition featuring four evenings introduced by director Roberto De Feo (The Nest, A Classic Horror Story) with a selection of genre gems.

Saturday, November 2 will showcase another major fantasy film preview with 2025 Armageddon by Michael Su, distributed digitally by Minerva Pictures with Full Action, soon available as a Full Action Exclusive on Prime Video, The Film Club, and TIMVISION. Set in a dystopian future where Earth is devastated by a global catastrophe, this film brings together all the famous creatures and monsters of the Asylum universe in an unmissable crossover.

Join us in Lucca from October 30 to November 2! We look forward to seeing you there!