ROME – Like a rock star, more than a rock star: Pope Leo XIV gathers an oceanic crowd of young people from every corner of the planet and, without “ifs” or “buts” (unlike other… rock “colleagues”), takes a clear, unequivocal position: “We are closer than ever to young people who suffer the most serious evils which are caused by other human beings. We are with the young people of Gaza. We are with the young people of Ukraine, with those of every land bloodied by war…”. →
TORONTO – Italy might yet have another highly influential horror filmmaker on their hands, and his name is Paolo Strippoli. Much like in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, when Argento’s and Bava’s “Giallo” films introduced stylish visuals, graphic violence and suspenseful narratives to the genre, Strippoli’s most recent (A Classic Horror Story & Piove) and next two films (The Holy Boy & The Spiral) feel positively reminiscent.
TORONTO – Following its screening at the Cannes Film Festival, the irrepressible Czech-Italian coproduction Caravan will finally have its theatrical release in Italy on August 7th, via Wanted. The Italian Distribution company focuses on art-house and independent projects, opting for films that might otherwise go unnoticed. And Caravan is just that: a road movie that follows the complicated journey of a mother and her disabled son across Italy.
TORONTO – The Venice Film Festival has just announced its “Critics’ Week” entries, a selection of seven films spotlighting first and second features from around the globe – including Italy. Among the seven this year, are two Italian works – a documentary titled Waking Hours by Federico Cammarata and Filippo Foscarini, and a feature film Agon by Giulio Bertelli. The bigger news for Bertelli was the announcement by Mubi (Streaming Platform) that it had acquired all Italian rights to Agon ahead of the film’s premiere.
TORONTO – Shot over a period of four weeks in 2024, Giulio Base’s Il Vangelo di Giuda is being prepared for a theatrical release by Milano’s Eagle Pictures. The film stars several notable actors such as Giancarlo Giannini, Rupert Everett and Paz Vega, and takes a novel storytelling approach in its depiction of Judas Iscariot’s life and demise. The film takes the perspective of Judas, who as he’s about to die [famously by hanging], reflects on the events and mission which led to his infamous betrayal of Jesus.
