RAI Cinema Chief Paolo Del Brocco on Selling ‘Heads or Tails’ in Cannes and a New Victor Kossakovsky Doc Made With Italian Botanist Stefano Mancuso (EXCLUSIVE)

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As a cinephile, I’m excited to share that it’s been about a year since our new film sales division at RAI debuted, and now we’re making waves at Cannes with our inaugural lineup! Leading the pack is the enigmatic Western titled “Heads or Tails,” starring none other than John C. Reilly as Buffalo Bill during his Italian sojourn. This intriguing production will be premiering in Un Certain Regard.

The distribution schedule of RAI Cinema International includes a fresh documentary by renowned Russian documentarian Victor Kossakovsky, famous for “Gunda” and “Aquarela.” Currently, Kossakovsky is working on another environmental documentary named “Tears for Firs,” in partnership with Italian botanist Stefano Mancuso. Mancuso is a leader in the field of plant neurobiology and has authored popular books such as “Tree Stories.” As stated by RAI Cinema head, Paolo Del Brocco, this film will explore the entire lifecycle of trees and the connection between plant life and our planet’s existence.

“Tears for First” is being produced by Rome-based Be Water Film with RAI Cinema.

Del Brocco conversed with EbMaster at Cannes about the performance of the newly established Italian sales company and what projects it has planned for the future.

Why did you launch a sales unit and how has it been going?

In a strategic move, we, as Italy’s primary movie producers, have decided to manage sales for a portion of our produced, co-produced, and distributed films directly. This step aims to boost their visibility in international markets, not just in terms of commercial sales and distribution, but also in film festivals. Our focus has been on new Italian cinema, as evident from our slate. After a year, we have a stronger lineup and some impressive results to showcase.

We kicked off with Margherita Vicario’s musical comedy “Gloria!”, which was sold to 40 countries. Similarly, Trudy Styler’s documentary “Posso Entrare? An Ode to Naples” was sold to 35 countries, including Hulu in the U.S. Most recently, we had a significant success with “Madly” by Paolo Genovese, which has been sold to 40 territories and continues to be in demand.

More significantly, we are also selling remake rights for these films. For instance, we have already sold “Madly” to China, and its director, Paolo Genovese, will be attending the Shanghai Film Festival with this film.

What are your expectations for ‘Heads or Tails’ in terms of sales?

To start, this film is the second production by the talented directors, Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppi, whose previous work “The Tale of King Crab” was a hit at Directors’ Fortnight. This upcoming movie, which we believe will be successful, is also being distributed in Italy. The cast is exceptional, featuring John C. Reilly along with Alessandro Borghi (“Supersex”) and Nadia Tereszkiewicz, a popular French actress known for “Red Island.” The story revolves around Buffalo Bill’s visit to Italy, making it an intriguing watch. There has been significant interest in the film, as evidenced by the number of buyers at market screenings. Although we haven’t received reviews yet due to its late placement in the festival, it is generating a lot of buzz and we are eager to collaborate with these directors on future projects.

Below are other standout fresh titles in RAI Cinema International Distribution slate:

—”A Year of School,” directed by Laura Samani, is her second film following the acclaim she received for “Small Body” at the 2021 Cannes Critics’ Week. This film is an adaptation of Giani Stuparich’s 1929 novel, updated to 2007 and set in a boys-only high school in Trieste. The arrival of a vibrant 17-year-old Swedish girl named Fred causes a shake-up in the existing social order.

In this heartwarming comedy, “Siblings,” directed by Greta Scarano, features Matilda De Angelis (“Fuori”) as the sister of an autistic man named Omar. Due to circumstances, she is compelled to go back to her hometown to take care of her older brother, also called Omar. This film serves as Scarano’s directorial debut; she is an accomplished actor, recognized for roles in “The Name of The Rose” and the Italian version of the British TV series “Liar.

—”Elisa – I wanted to kill her” is a forthcoming psychological drama directed by Leonardo Di Costanzo (“The Inner Cage,” “The Intruder”). This film stars Roschd Zem, a French-Moroccan actor known for works like “Days of Glory” and “The Innocent,” along with Italy’s Barbara Ronchi, who has previously appeared in “Kidnapped.

Carols Behind Bars,” a documentary by Roberta Torre (“Tano to Die For”) that follows the story of female prisoners in a Milan prison as they rehearse Christmas carols within their confines, offering glimpses into their personal histories and explaining why they landed behind bars.

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2025-05-22 11:17