TFL Italia is the TorinoFilmLab section established in 2022 to nurture synergies and connections between the national and global industry. As an international workshop for the development and training of audiovisual professionals, organized by the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, TFL puts the Boost IT Lab workshop at the center of this initiative. The workshop brings together emerging Italian producers and directors who wish to explore and enhance the international impact of their projects and international professionals with feature film projects looking for Italian production partners.
“The path undertaken by TorinoFilmLab on Italian Industry and its internationalization continues this year. In a market such as the national and European one, traversed by rapid changes and increasingly competitive scenarios, we believe in fact that training and development initiatives such as Boost IT Lab represent a unique opportunity to consolidate expertise and expand networks of collaborations.” Asserts Francesco Giai Via, Curator of TFL Italy “The training course dedicated to international projects is a confirmation that on a global level Italy has fully entered among the countries with which producers and directors turn in search of artistic and production contributions, thanks also to a new generation of national producers open to the opportunities offered by co-production dynamics. Boost IT Lab thus stands as a privileged space for mutual knowledge, experimentation, and in-depth analysis, aimed at having stronger and more competitive projects, without ever forgetting the need to work to intercept a diverse audience.”
Boost IT Lab will focus on four days of sessions with teams composed of producers and screenwriters/directors working on the eight feature film projects in development. This intensive and focused workshop provides a new generation of professionals with the tools and guidance needed to operate internationally and understand how to make the project attract a global audience. Through specialized training with experts and mentors, participants will deepen their knowledge and activate opportunities for co-production, market access and international funding.
After some preparatory online sessions focused on script mentoring, audience design and sales, as well as focuses on cash flow and legal aspects related to co-production contracts, they will meet in Turin Nov. 18-21, at Circolo dei lettori.
The track concludes with the industry event TFL ITALIA, Thursday, Nov. 21 as part of TFI Torino Film Industry, which combines pitching sessions and one-on-one meetings with Italian and international decision makers looking for projects with high authorial and production potential. In addition, producers will have the opportunity to participate in TFL's co-production market, the Meeting Event (Nov. 21-23), to further expand their networks.
The four selected international projects, three first works and one second work, come from different countries and are presented by talented directors and producers who express unique and grounded cultural visions. Hugo Bousquet, a French filmmaker with a passion for alpine settings, adapted Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz's novel of the same name for "Great Fear on the Mountain” with production by Elise Tamisier of Septième Lame Films, a French company that explores social themes and intense cinematic landscapes. "Nothing Will Be Named After Me” produced by Miljan Vučelić's Montenegro-based Bitter Frames, and deals with existential regret with a screenplay by Maja Todorović, author of several short films, long features and TV series. Daiva Žalnieriunas, a Canadian filmmaker, brings her drama "The Woman Mara” under the production of OPC's Emily Harris, known for award-winning documentaries and a commitment to supporting emerging authors. Finally, "Three Summer Days” is the first feature by Spain's Álvaro López Alba, developed with producer Nuria Muñoz Ortín of Nexus CreaFilms, with a Goya 2023 nomination behind him with the award-winning short film Deaf. These projects represent an intersection of international and personal perspectives, with the energy of directors and producers committed to telling deep and universal stories.
The four selected Italian long fiction projects highlight the talent of emerging directors and the experience of producers in the national film scene. Out of the four titles, three are first works and one is a second direction.
“Amerika”, directed by Davide Maldi and produced by Massimiliano Navarra of Turin-based Ring Film, narrates an escape from an oppressive world, completing Maldi's trilogy on adolescence and marking his first feature film. “Bove”, directed by Matteo Fresi and produced by Alice Drago of Turin-based Epica Film, explores themes of guilt and redemption in a remote valley; Drago, CEO of Epica Film, has a proven track record in projects selected for European festivals. “Flare”, by Marco Mingolla and produced by Martina Bertuccio of Cattive Productions, tells the fears of an adopted Apulian child, with Bertuccio focused on stories that reinterpret the past with authenticity. Finally, “Lunàdiga”, directed by Elisa Chiari and Francesca Trovato and produced by Stefano Cravero of Turin-based Base Zero, explores the themes of identity and return to roots in a Sardinian community, where the isolated microcosm is the scene of the dynamics of belonging and rejection.
Three of these projects were realized with the support of with the support of Film Commission Torino Piemonte - Piemonte Film Tv Development Fund except "Flare” which has however with Company Space Production, Ukraine.
***
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
GREAT FEAR ON THE MOUNTAIN (La Grande Peur dans la montagne)
Feature-length fiction film, second feature
SYNOPSIS
In the early 20th century, an Alpine village is hit by drought and poor harvests. The ambitious Prâlong convinces the villagers to reopen the cursed pasture of Sasseneire. Seven poor herdsmen, including Djépi and the sinister Clou, agree despite growing tension. An epidemic strikes the cattle, and Ernesto, a young farmer, dies in isolation. Vitourine, Djépi's love interest, discovers Prâlong's deception but is silenced as he was promised. He dies trying to warn the village of a dam collapse. A glacier destroys everything in its fall, and only Clou, Djépi and Prâlong are left surviving for their selfish gains.
Director: Hugo Bousquet
After studying art and film, Hugo's first feature film, Outre Ici, was shot in a high mountain lodge. Drawing on his work as a shepherd, he then adapted Ramuz's novel, Great Fear on the Mountain. The filming of the mountains, their inhabitants and their dramas is at the heart of his cinematic research.
Producer: Elise Tamisier - Septième Lame Films, France
A producer and president of Septième Lame Films, she began her career in production by co-founding Films de Force Majeure in 2010. She then turned her attention to documentary filmmaking, academic research and film teaching. In 2023, he created his own company to support film development.
Co-productions: The project is being developed with Alessandro Carroli and the Turin-based production company EiE Film (co-development agreement).
NOTHING WILL BE NAMED AFTER ME (Po meni se ništa neće zvati)
Feature-length fiction film, debut feature
SYNOPSIS
Nothing Will Be Named After Me is a story about a powerful man, Maxim, who has created his own world and rules all his life, but without ever realizing that he has become a prisoner of everything he has so carefully created over the years. Now, faced with the fact that his time is running out and that he has created nothing really important that will remain after him, he begins to see a second chance for a different life in the character of a young woman, Anastasija. This is a story about a ruined life, loneliness and regret....
Screenwriter: Maja Todorović
Maja graduated in dramaturgy from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. She has written feature films such as Ajvar, Toma, Salsa and numerous short films. Her most important television series are V efekat, Toma and Žigosani u reketu. He is also preparing his first feature film as a director, The Emigrant which was part of TFL in 2022.
THE WOMAN MARA (The Woman Mara)
Fiction feature film, debut feature
SYNOPSIS
Mara (30), a Canadian lawyer, has a mental breakdown in court and is forced to go on vacation. Once an aspiring writer, Mara chooses to convalesce in Naples, Italy. However, Naples, a chaotic city difficult to navigate, is not as relaxing as Mara had imagined. Only after being robbed of her computer and passport does her life change. She finds herself unusually alone in Pompeii, except for another woman, Val (58, Italian). They wander the unearthed ancient city contemplating their own existence, which leads to intimate revelations. Val's impending death for example.
Producer: Emily Harris - OPC, Canada
Emily is a producer and EP. Her recent titles include Daughters (Sundance 2024, Festival Favourite Award & Audience Award: US Documentary) and Are You Scared to Be Yourself Because You Think That You Might Fail? (TIFF 2024, Best Canadian Short Film). He is working on The Mara Woman (by Daiva Žalnieriunas) and Import (by Paul Shkordoff).
Director: Daiva Žalnieriunas
Daiva, writer-director and producer, directed the short films Farewell Winona (Marilyn FF) and Coucou (Brooklyn FF). She produced and worked on the screenplay for Graham Foy's The Maiden (Venice Days, Venice FF), and many short films, including August 22, This Year (Semaine de la Critique, Cannes FF).
THREE SUMMER DAYS (Tres Dias De Verano)
Feature-length fiction film, debut feature
SYNOPSIS
One family, one weekend, and three experiences of the same event that threatens to separate them. Cris has fallen in love with a boy while her friendship with Miri deteriorates. Dani is lonely and spends a summer locked in his room, obsessed with Miri. And José, the father of the two teenagers, is having an affair that he tries to hide from his children. During these three days at the beach, this family will try to reconnect with each other as secrets, jealousies, insecurities, and lack of communication grow between them, collapsing their little worlds.
Producer: Nuria Muñoz Ortín - Nexus CreaFilms, Spain
Nuria is a producer and director born in Murcia, Spain. She received a Goya 2023 nomination with the award-winning short film Deaf, which is now in production as a feature film. She also co-directed and produced two other short films with Eva Libertad and was a producer on Álvaro Lopez Alba's new short film, Eli.
Director: Álvaro López Alba
Born in 1992, Álvaro is a psychologist and writer-director. His short films have been selected in the official sections for competition in international festivals such as Moscow, Tirana or Malaga. He was selected in ECAM's prestigious Incubator to develop his first feature film.
***
ITALIAN PROJECTS
AMERIKA (Amerika)
Fiction feature film, debut work
SYNOPSIS
In a world where the state forces citizens to repay their failures with work, a cruel law allows parents to pass on debts to their children. Ada and Livio, inseparable twins, are marked “Exposed” and sentenced to repay a high debt. Livio, trapped by fear and obligation, succumbs to forced labor. Meanwhile, Ada decides to escape and joins a group of fugitives. Determined to find Livio and reach the legendary “Amerika” together, Ada is willing to sacrifice her new peers. But when they are finally reunited, their encounter shatters her hope, forcing Ada to choose between Livio and herself.
Producer: Massimiliano Navarra - Ring Film (Italy)
Massimiliano Navarra has produced and co-produced a number of award-winning documentaries and feature films screened at major international festivals, such as King Crab, The Bohemian, Madame Luna. He is currently producing Head or Tales? by Rigo de Righi and Zoppis and developing Amerika by Davide Maldi.
Director: Davide Maldi
After his short film Sul fiume, Davide Maldi directs Frastuono (Corso Salani prize at Trieste FF), the first chapter of a trilogy on adolescence. His latest work, L'apprendistato, premiered at Locarno and won the jury prize at Torino FF. He is currently working on Amerika, his debut film and the third part of the trilogy.
Produced with the support of Film Commission Torino Piemonte - Piemonte Film Tv Development Fund.
BOVE (Bove)
Feature-length fiction film, second feature
SYNOPSIS
Christopher, an imposing man, has a mild intellectual disability. He lives in a remote border valley where he drives a bus that connects Italy with France. He helps with migrant deportation by sending warning messages to the guards.
His life changes drastically when he accidentally kills a migrant. His so-called friends exploit his guilt and physical strength to set up human trafficking operations. When an albino child gets involved, Christopher, struck by his innocence, decides to rebel.
Christopher finds peace in prison, but the tragic cycle of violence and redemption must be closed.
Producer: Alice Drago - Epica Film, Italy
Alice Drago graduated in Film Production from the University of Turin. Since 2014 she is CEO of Epica Film, with which she develops and produces documentaries and short films selected in major European festivals (Festival dei Popoli, Venice FF among others). Teaches film at various universities.
Director: Matteo Fresi
Matteo Fresi graduated in Art History in 2005. In 2007 he graduated from the Holden School, where he stayed for over ten years teaching film. In 2020 Fandango produced his first feature film and in 2021 Il Muto di Gallura, which was presented at the Turin Film Festival as the only Italian film in competition.
Produced with the support of Film Commission Torino Piemonte - Piemonte Film Tv Development Fund.
FLARE (Bagliore)
Feature-length fiction film, debut feature
SYNOPSIS
In 2001, the quiet Apulian countryside sets the stage for Riccardo, a nine-year-old boy adopted by Pino and Margherita, a young couple unable to have children. During the summer, they offer their home for a therapeutic stay to Natalia, a young Ukrainian girl from Chernobyl, hoping her presence will comfort Riccardo and strengthen their fading bond. With family support, Richard explores emotions as an adult and experiences first love. However, as September approaches and Natalia's stay ends, he must once again face his fear of abandonment. Will he find the strength to face it and grow?
Producer: Martina Bertuccio - Bad Productions, Italy
Born in Messina in '97, Martina started as an assistant director and extended to writing, producing and art direction.A 2022 graduate in TV, Cinema & New Media from IULM, she writes and produces short films for Bad Productions, focusing on stories that revisit the past with authenticity.
Director: Marco Mingolla
A director and producer born in 1994, since 2019 he has been CEO of Cattive Produzioni, which produces and distributes short films, documentaries and podcasts. His work explores growth and the dualism between reality and representation.
Co-productions: in place with Company Space Production, Ukraine.
LUNÀDIGA (Lunàdiga)
Fiction feature film, debut feature
SYNOPSIS
In the Sardinian countryside, summer marks Claudia's return to her homeland, a provincial community to which she no longer feels she belongs and with the burden of family worried that she may be hit by the evil eye for her homosexuality. In the small village where geographic isolation has created a microcosm in which ancient traditions have remained intact, Claudia is what locals would call a lunàdiga: expatriate, lonely and still childless at 34. So in the heat of August, as the flowers wither and the earth burns, she will find herself coming to terms with her sense of belonging.
Producer: Stefano Cravero - Base Zero, Italy
An award-winning editor at major international festivals, Stefano is one of the founders of Base Zero. He produced About Last Year, premiered on SIC 2023 and the animated short film Dark Globe.
Director: Elisa Chiari
After completing her master's degree, Elisa began working as a filmmaker and photographer on documentary projects. Her research explores the relationship between humans and landscape and issues of gender.
Director: Francesca Trovato
Francesca approaches documentary filmmaking both as a director and director of photography. Her journey as a writer is rooted in exploring the relationship between tradition and the global dimension.
Made with the support of Film Commission Torino Piemonte - Piemonte Film Tv Development Fund.
***
TorinoFilmLab is organized by the National Cinema Museum with the support of Creative Europe - MEDIA Program of the European Union. Boost IT Lab is realized by TorinoFilmLab with Film Centre of Montenegro, ECAM, Apulia Film Commission, Film Commission Regione Campania, AGICI, ANICA, Bellaria Film Festival, Milano Film Network.