Netflix Confirms Its Commitment to the Italian Creative Community and Announces Four New Productions

Credits: Virginia Bettoja / Netflix (From left to right, Top to bottom:Teresa Saponangelo, Federico Cesari, Ilenia Pastorelli, Gianmarco Saurino, Massimiliano Caiazzo, Eduardo Scarpetta, Caterina Ferioli, Simone Baldasseroni, Michela De Rossi, Vittoria Schisano, Ivan Cotroneo, Giacomo Ferrara, Monica Guerritore, Claudia Gerini, Kim Rossi Stuart, Edoardo Leo, Letizia Lamartire, Matteo Rovere, Cristina Comencini)

Presented today, the ambitious and authentic Italian line-up includes popular returning seasons and brand new films and series

Including the film Il Treno dei bambini by Cristina Comencini

Rome, September 19, 2023 - Today at Italy's See What's Next event, attended by some of Italy's biggest names in front of and behind the camera, Netflix presented an exciting slate featuring series, films, docuseries and unscripted shows, across a mix of genres, formats and languages. These films and series have taken inspiration from real-life characters and real people's lives, popular IPs and important cultural topics.

Bringing the best of Italian film and series to audiences, the four brand new projects included:

*NEW FEATURE FILMS:

Il treno dei bambini by Cristina Comencini - From Viola Ardone's bestseller, an epic and poignant film. A journey through the misery but also the generosity witnessed inpostwar Italy, as seen through the eyes of a child torn between two mothers.

Fabbricante di lacrime by Alessandro Genovesi - A film inspired by the novel of the same name by Erin Doom, one of the most important literary cases of recent times, and a best-selling book in Italy in 2022.

*NEW SERIES

Storia della mia famiglia by Claudio Cupellini - the story of Fausto and the last day of his life. A tale of joy, passion, love for his children, and a lack of fear for the future. But above all, the story of an unlikely family, of a beloved clan on which Fausto imposes unexpected responsibilities.

Adorazione by Stefano Mordini - a young adult series loosely based on the novel of the same name by Alice Urciuolo that tells the story of a group of teenage girls and boys during the summer that will change their lives forever.

The new projects join a series of other films and series (previously announced), also showcased during the event, which explore a variety of narratives with the aim of bringing Netflix's audiences the best of Italy's must-watch films and series:

· from the honest and authentic storytelling of the young (Everything Calls for Salvation S2; Rhythm + Flow Italy);

· to the female point of view featuring complex, irreverent and extraordinarily modern heroines (Brigands: The Quest for Gold; Inganno; The Law According to Lidia Poët S2; Sara);

· from stories that that tell a family tale with a modern and innovative twist (The Life You Wanted);

· to characters whose lives, marked by excess and transgression, are a powerful tool to understanding current issues (Supersex; Vasco Rossi: Living It);

· from great love stories (Nuovo Olimpo);

· to the historical timeless novels (The Leopard).

"We remain committed to our investment in Italy and Italian stories with conviction, continuing our long-term commitment to the country and its creative community" says Tinny Andreatta, Vice President Italian Content at Netflix. "The stories that, together with our production partners and the many talents involved, we are releasing for our Italian and international audience have three things in common: they are authentic stories, able to speak to the present about the present and emotionally touch the audience on issues closest to the lives they live. They are courageous stories because they talk about controversial and provocative topics; they are unique stories, which, put together make a rich mosaic that speaks to different audiences and different needs to find entertainment, curiosity, provocation".

DETAILS ABOUT THE TITLES PRESENTED AT THE SEE WHAT'S NEXT EVENT - (non contractual credits)

*NEW FILMS

IL TRENO DEI BAMBINI
Release date: Coming Soon
Produced by Palomar
From the novel with the same name by Viola Ardone. Written by Furio Andreotti, Giulia Calenda, Cristina Comencini, Camille Dugay
Directed by Cristina Comencini
Cast: Barbara Ronchi, Serena Rossi, Christian Cervone, Francesco Di Leva, Antonia Truppo, Monica Nappo, Nunzia Schiano and featuring Stefano Accorsi

Synopsis: 1946. Amerigo is seven years old and he never left Napoli and his mother Antonietta. His world, made of streets and poverty, is about to change. Boarding one of the "happiness trains" he will spend the winter up north where a young woman, Derna, will welcome him and take care of him. At her side, Amerigo gains an awareness that will lead him to make a painful choice that will change his life forever. It will take him several years to find out the truth: those who love you do not hold you back, but let you go. From Viola Ardone's bestseller, an epic and moving film. A journey through poverty, but also through the generosity of postwar Italy, seen through the eyes of a boy torn between two mothers.

FABBRICANTE DI LACRIME
Release date: Coming Soon
A Colorado Film Production, produced by Alessandro Usai and Iginio Straffi
Written by Eleonora Fiorini and Alessandro Genovesi
Inspired by "Fabbricante di lacrime" by Erin Doom published by Magazzini Salani
Directed by Alessandro Genovesi
Cast: Caterina Ferioli, Simone Baldasseroni (Biondo)

Synopsis: Within the walls of the Grave, the orphanage where Nica grew up, a legend has always been told: that of the maker of tears, a mysterious craftsman, guilty of crafting all the fears and anxieties that inhabit the hearts of men. But at seventeen years old, the time has come for Nica to leave fairy tales behind. Her biggest dream is about to come true. Mr and Mrs Milligan have started the adoption process and are ready to give her the family she has always wanted. In her new home, however, Nica is not alone. Along with her, Rigel, a restless and mysterious orphan, the last person in the world Nica would want as an adoptive brother, is also taken from the Grave. Rigel is intelligent, smart, plays the piano like an enchanting demon and has a beauty that can enchant, but his angelic appearance conceals a dark nature. Even though Nica and Rigel are united by a common past of pain and hardship, living together seems impossible, but kindness and anger are two different ways of fighting pain to stay alive and to conceal the emotions that devastate their hearts, becoming for each other that tears-maker of legend. To the maker of tears you cannot lie: and they will have to find the courage to accept that desperate force that attract them towards each other called love.

* NEW SERIES

STORIA DELLA MIA FAMIGLIA
Release date: Coming Soon
A Palomar Production
Written by
Series bible: Filippo Gravino with Elisa Dondi
Outlines and Screenplays: Filippo Gravino, Elisa Dondi
Directed by Claudio Cupellini
Cast: Eduardo Scarpetta, Vanessa Scalera, Massimiliano Caiazzo, Cristiana Dell'Anna, Antonio Gargiulo

Synopsis: This is the story of Fausto and the last day of his life. A story of joy, passion, love for his children, and a lack of fear of the future. Also, this is the story of an absolute love and its dramatic and decisive breaking point. But above all, this is the story of an unlikely family, of a beloved clan on which Fausto imposes unexpected responsibilities. A story of joys and falls, of laughs, of people capable of making macroscopic mistakes and small heroic gestures. In which everyone, no one excluded, doing their worst will try to do their best.

ADORAZIONE
Release date: Coming Soon
Produced by Picomedia
Loosely adapted from the novel of the same name by Alice Urciuolo. Written by Donatella Diamanti, Giovanni Galassi, Tommaso Matano, Francesca Tozzi, Gianluca Gloria
Directed by Stefano Mordini
Cast: Noemi Magagnini (Vanessa), Alice Lupparelli (Elena), Beatrice Puccilli (Vera), Penelope Raggi (Diana), Luigi Bruno (Gianmarco), Giulio Brizzi (Giorgio), Tommaso Donadoni (Enrico), Federico Russo (Christian), Alessia Cosmo (Teresa), Federica Bonocore (Melissa), Barbara Chichiarelli (Chiara), Claudia Potenza (Manuela), Max Mazzotta (Ricotta). With Mario Sgueglia (Andrea) and with Ilenia Pastorelli (Enza).
N. episodes: 6

Synopsis: Adorazione is a young adult series that tells the story of a group of teenage girls and boys during the summer that will change their lives forever. School has just finished and tourists are beginning to arrive at the beautiful beaches of Sabaudia, when Elena, 16 years old and with a crazy desire to escape the Agropontino province, disappears. Each of Elena's friends knows something they are not saying, has a secret connection with the girl and may have something to do with her mysterious disappearance. It will be the beginning of a journey that, between suspicions and revelations, will lead each of the boys coming to terms with the truth of their relationships and their emotional education.

TITLES ALREADY ANNOUNCED (in alphabetical order)

SERIES

BRIGANDS: THE QUEST FOR GOLD
Release date: Coming Soon
Direction: Nicola Sorcinelli, Antonio Le Fosse, Steve Saint Leger
Produced by Fabula Pictures in partnership with Los Hermanos s.r.l.
Written by: GRAMS*, the collective consisting of Antonio Le Fosse, Re Salvador, Eleonora Trucchi, Marco Raspanti and Giacomo Mazzariol
Cast: Michela De Rossi, Ivana Lotito, Matilda Lutz, Marlon Joubert and Orlando Cinque

Synopsis: Southern Italy, two years after the Unification of Italy: a woman, forced to escape from her village, joins a particular group of brigands and she will become one of the most ruthless and strategic leaders. But she is not the only one to choose this life and soon comes into contact with other women like her. In order to recover the gold of the South and restore hope to the peasants, the various bands of brigands will have no choice but to unite against the common enemy. Brigands against State, but also brigands against brigands, in a struggle where one must be willing to sacrifice even one's humanity to overcome the oppressors. Dense forests, immense glades and desolate landscapes create a precise image system in which the characters come into intimate contact with the wilderness, becoming an integral part of it. Confined to the edges of civilization and forced to live like beasts to survive in hostile places, this environment changes them forever and brings out their darker, more primitive side. A little bit Robin Hood, a little bit Pirates, the bandits protagonists acquire wealth and power to replace the State. A violent criminality is born where the only option to survive is to become an unscrupulous outlaw.

EVERYTHING CALLS FOR SALVATION S2
Release date: Coming Soon
Produced by Picomedia
Written by Francesco Bruni, Daniele Mencarelli and Daniela Gambaro
Directed by Francesco Bruni
Cast: Federico Cesari (Daniele), Fotinì Peluso (Nina), Vincenzo Crea (Gianluca), Vincenzo Nemolato (Madonnina), Lorenzo Renzi (Giorgio), Alessandro Pacioni (Alessandro), Samuel Di Napoli (Rachid), Marco Todisco (Paolo), Vittorio Viviani (Armando), Ricky Memphis (Pino), Filippo Nigro (Dr. Mancino), Raffaella Lebboroni (Dr. Cimaroli), Bianca Nappi (Rossana), Flaure BB Kabore (Alessia), Lorenza Indovina (Anna), Arianna Mattioli (Antonella), Michele La Ginestra (Angelo), Giacomo Mattia (Giovanni), Valentina Romani (Angelica). With Andrea Pennacchi (Mario). And with Drusilla Foer (Matilde). Featuring Carolina Crescentini (Giorgia)
N. episodes: 5

Logline: After the great success of the first season, loosely based on the novel of the same name by Daniele Mencarelli, this second season will be an unpublished sequel to the novel. This second season follows the lives of the well known characters, who will meet new ones in the psychiatry ward or in the world outside.

INGANNO
Release date: Coming Soon
Produced by Cattleya - part of ITV Studios
Ministry of Culture - Italian Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual
Based on the UK series "Gold Digger" produced by Mainstreet Pictures, created by Marnie Dickens. A format released by ITV Studios.
Written by Teresa Ciabatti, Eleonora Cimpanelli, Flaminia Gressi, Michela Straniero
Adaptation of Teresa Ciabatti, Eleonora Cimpanelli, Flaminia Gressi, Michela Straniero
Directed by Pappi Corsicato
Cast: Monica Guerritore, Giacomo Gianniotti, Emanuel Caserio, Dharma Mangia Woods, Francesco Del Gaudio

Logline: A sentimental thriller that plays with suspense, taboos, and uncomfortable truths about love. The series follows the passionate and turbulent relationship of an older woman and a young man who is half her age. Their relationship undermines social and family norms of the Mediterranean culture.

SARA (Working title)
Release date: Coming soon
Produced by Palomar
Based on the novels with the same name by Maurizio de Giovanni. Written by Donatella Diamanti, Mario Cristiani and Giovanni Galassi
Directed by Carmine Elia
Cast: Teresa Saponangelo (Sara), Claudia Gerini (Teresa), Flavio Furno (Pardo), Chiara Celotto (Viola)
N. episodes: 6

Synopsis: To shed light on the untimely death of her son, Sara, a former internal secret service agent, tired and withdrawn in a prison of solitude, returns to ask her friend and former colleague, Teresa, for a favor. But everything comes with a price. And suddenly, she finds herself entagled in her old life. Whether she likes it or not, she's still the best: they called her the "invisible woman", and her gift has never been questioned. While discovering details of her son's life that she knew almost nothing about, Sara sinks into an investigation that brings her back to many ghosts of her past. Keeping both of the things together is very difficult, and certainly very dangerous. Paradoxically however, this is how the invisible woman comes back to life, doing what she does best. Seeking justice.

SUBURRÆTERNA
Release date: November 14, 2023
Produced by Cattleya - part of ITV Studios
Ministry of Culture - Italian Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual
Written by Ezio Abbate and Fabrizio Bettelli - who also work as Head Writers - Andrea Nobile, Camilla Buizza, Marco Sani, Giulia Forgione
Based on the literary work Suburra by Giancarlo De Cataldo and Carlo Bonini - who also handle the story editing - published by Einaudi
Directed by Ciro D'Emilio (ep. 1-4), Alessandro Tonda (ep. 5-8)
Cast: Giacomo Ferrara, Filippo Nigro, Carlotta Antonelli, Federica Sabatini, Marlon Joubert, Aliosha Massine, Giorgia Spinelli, Alberto Cracco, Federigo Ceci

Synopsis: Rome, 2011. As political institutions are on the brink of collapse, the Vatican is shaken by scandals and it's mayhem on the streets of the Capital. In the Middle-world, Cinaglia (Filippo Nigro) has tried to take on Samurai's legacy, and, together with Badali (Emmanuele Aita), he oversees all criminal activity in the city with the support of Adelaide (Paola Sotgiu) and Angelica (Carlotta Antonelli), who are now in command of the Anacleti and Nadia (Federica Sabatini), who helps them managing the dealing spots in Ostia. But not everyone can accept the established order of things. New key players storm the playing field, upsetting the balance of Rome. It's the beginning of a revolution, spreading fast from the Church and City Hall to the shores of Ostia, aimed to erase everything that belongs to the past. Spadino (Giacomo Ferrara) must return home to avoid his own family being eradicated along with it and will have to make new allies, even among people he would've never thought could join forces... But war is war and the control of Rome is once again at stake.

SUPERSEX
Release date: Coming Soon
Produced by Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment, a company of the Fremantle group, and by Matteo Rovere for Groenlandia, a Banijay group company
Created and written by Francesca Manieri
Directed by Matteo Rovere, Francesco Carrozzini, Francesca Mazzoleni
Cast: Cast: Alessandro Borghi (Rocco Siffredi), Jasmine Trinca (Lucia), Adriano Giannini (Tommaso), Enrico Borello (Gabriele), Saul Nanni (young Rocco), Vincenzo Nemolato (Riccardo Schicchi), Gaia Messerklinger (Moana), Jade Pedri (Sylvie), Linda Caridi (Tina).
N. episodes: 7

Logline: The story is inspired by the real life of Rocco Siffredi and by his direct testimonies. At the center of the story are never before seen aspects of the pornstar, a profound story that runs through his life since childhood. His family, his origins, his relationship with love, the starting point and the context that led him to embark on his path in pornography.

THE LAW ACCORDING TO LIDIA POËT S2
Release date: Coming Soon
Direction: Matteo Rovere, Letizia Lamartire and Pippo Mezzapesa
Produced by Groenlandia (a Banijay Group company)
Produced by Matteo Rovere
Created by Guido Iuculano and Davide Orsini
Written by: Flaminia Gressi, Guido Iuculano e Davide Orsini
Cast: Matilda De Angelis (Lidia Poët), Eduardo Scarpetta (Jacopo Barberis), Pier Luigi Pasino (Enrico Poët), Sinéad Thornhill (Marianna Poët), Sara Lazzaro (Teresa Barberis), Dario Aita (Andrea Caracciolo), Gianmarco Saurino (Attorney Fourneau).

Synopsis: Lidia is not allowed to be a lawyer because of a law written by men. So this time she aims even higher, she wants to change the law. While she continues to collaborate with her brother Enrico, tackling new cases and fighting for women's rights, she wants to convince him to run for Parliament so that her law can finally find a voice. Lidia is completely done with love, especially with Jacopo, responsible for having sold the family villa and on a collision course with all the Poëts. But Jacopo and Lidia are forced to meet again to share, reluctantly, a secret investigation that concerns both of them, rediscovering the complicity and fun that has always bound them. Giving a hard time to the protagonists, the new King's Attorney, Fourneau, a man in power who unexpectedly treats Lidia as his equal, prompting her to question the complex and contradictory relationship she has with feelings, and the cost of personal renunciation that she is sustaining in the name of her ideals. In the six new episodes, Lidia will continue to break down the pieces of this world built by men for men, with intelligence, irony and without mincing her words, but also questioning herself.

THE LEOPARD
Release date: Coming Soon
Produced by Fabrizio Donvito, Daniel Campos Pavoncelli, Marco Cohen and Benedetto Habib for Indiana Production and Will Gould, Frith Tiplady and Matthew Read for Moonage Pictures
Written by Richard Warlow, also creator and executive producer, with Benji Walters.
Directed by Tom Shankland, Giuseppe Capotondi and Laura Luchetti
Cast: Kim Rossi Stuart, Benedetta Porcaroli, Deva Cassel and Saul Nanni. Also in the cast Paolo Calabresi, Francesco Colella, Astrid Meloni and Greta Esposito.

Synopsis: Based on what many consider to be one of the greatest Italian novels of all time, The Leopard is a sensuous epic series, set against the backdrop of revolution in 1860s Sicily. At its heart is Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, who leads a life surrounded by beauty and privilege. But as Italy moves towards unification and the old aristocratic order is threatened, he realizes that his family's future is in jeopardy. New allegiances must be made, each one a threat to his principles. Eventually Don Fabrizio is faced with an impossible choice. He has the power to engineer a marriage, between the rich and beautiful Angelica and his nephew Tancredi, that could secure his family's legacy, but doing so he would break his favorite daughter, Concetta's heart. The series will be a modern exploration of timeless themes - power, love, and the cost of progress.

THE LIFE YOU WANTED
Release date: Coming Soon
Produced by Banijay Studios Italy
Created and written by Ivan Cotroneo and Monica Rametta
Directed by Ivan Cotroneo
Cast: Vittoria Schisano, Giuseppe Zeno, Pina Turco, Alessio Lapice and Nicola Bello

Synopsis: Gloria, the protagonist of The Life You Wanted, believes that she has found happiness in Lecce, where she founded a small travel agency and fell in love with Ernesto, but one day her life is turned upside down by the arrival of Marina, a friend from her University days in Naples, before Gloria began her transition path. Marina brings along Andrea and Arianna, her children from two different partners, and is pregnant with a third, whose father is Pietro, a young man with a passionate and perhaps even dangerous temper. Gloria would prefer not to reconnect with Marina, since she reminds her of a part of her life she would like to forget. However, Marina hides many secrets and soon Sergio, Arianna's father, will also arrive on the scene, a resolute man who immediately proves to be very wary of Gloria. For her, the time has arrived to come to terms with "the life she wanted", her past and her future, to discover that happiness sometimes comes in unexpected forms and that love is the only force capable of making life worth living.

*FILMS

LEO
Release date: November 21, 2023
Cast: In the Italian version, the voice of the main character Leo is dubbed by Edoardo Leo

Synopsis: Jaded 74-year-old lizard Leo has been stuck in the same Florida classroom for decades with his terrarium-mate turtle. When he learns he only has one year left to live, he plans to escape to experience life on the outside but instead gets caught up in the problems of his anxious students - including an impossibly mean substitute teacher. It ends up being the strangest but most rewarding bucket list ever...

NUOVO OLIMPO
Release date: November 1, 2023
Produced by Tilde Corsi and Gianni Romoli, a R&C Produzioni production with Faros Film
Written by Gianni Romoli and Ferzan Ozpetek
A film by Ferzan Ozpetek
Cast: Damiano Gavino, Andrea Di Luigi, Luisa Ranieri, Greta Scarano, Aurora Giovinazzo, Alvise Rigo, Giancarlo Commare and Jasmine Trinca.

Synopsis: Set in the late 1970s. They are young, beautiful and just 25 years old. They meet by chance and fall madly in love. An unexpected event, however, separates them. For thirty years, however, they pursued the hope of finding each other again, because they still love each other.

*DOCUSERIES

VASCO ROSSI: LIVING IT
Release date: September 27, 2023
Produced by Guglielmo Ariè and Azzurra Ariè's Solaris Media in collaboration with Maurizio Vassallo and Pepsy Romanoff's Except production company
Written by Igor Artibani and Guglielmo Ariè, with Pepsy Romanoff
Directed by Pepsy Romanoff
N. episodes: 5

Logline: Vasco Rossi - Living it was filmed mostly during the two-year pandemic, a moment of unexpected respite from the rockstar's usual, countless commitments, a unique opportunity to find time to look back and retrace the most important moments of his career and life. The series follows Vasco to his most important places, from Zocca, his hometown, to Los Angeles and, through interviews, archival materials and testimonies from those who have been with him over the years, traces his and all the stories behind his unforgettable songs. Vasco has written an unreleased song specifically for the series, entitled "Gli Sbagli Che Fai", it will be the theme song and will be released as a single on digital platforms via Virgin Records/Universal Music Italia, at the same time as the series release on Wednesday, September 27.

*UNSCRIPTED

RYTHM + FLOW ITALY
Release date: Coming Soon
Produced by Fremantle
Written by Dino Clemente, Matteo Lenardon, Paola Papa, Antonio Vicaretti and by Chiara Guerra, Vincenzo Majorana, Marina Pagliari
First Italian adaptation of a Netflix original format (after success in the USA and France)
Directed by Alessio Muzi
Cast: Fabri Fibra, Geolier, Rose Villain

Synopsis: "Rhythm + Flow Italy", the music competition in the world of rap, produced by Fremantle, with Fabri Fibra, Geolier and Rose Villain, in search of the protagonists that will leave their mark on the Italian rap scene, with a prize for the winner of 100,000 euros. "Rhythm + Flow Italy", a show in 8 episodes that will be available only on Netflix in 2024, will follow Fabri Fibra, Geolier and Rose Villain's quest for the best talent of the next generation, starting from the most representative cities for Italian rap - Rome, Naples and Milan. During the competition, the young rappers will prove themselves with their freestyle skills, rap battles, and production of original songs, guided by their desire to make their dream come true. Throughout the show, the three judges will be joined by the main representatives of the Italian rap scene, who will help define the outcome of the competition.