News FILM

All News

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

25 November 2024

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.

News FILM

All News

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!

News FILM

All News

Minerva Pictures at the 19th Rome Film Festival!

20 September 2024

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