"A Ciambra" - A Collaboration between the Regions of Basilicata and Calabria is Italy's Oscar Entry

It was just announced that Italy's entry for the Oscar race will be a small, independent film made in the south.

"A Ciambra," directed by Jonas Carpignano with Martin Scorsese as one of the executive producers, takes place within a small community in Calabria. 14-year-old Pio Amato is in a hurry to grow up and follows his older brother Cosimo everywhere. Through him, he learns how to navigate the streets of their hometown. One night, Pio sets out to prove to his brother that he is as good or better than him but when things go wrong, a series of events will forever change the way he sees the world.

The film is one of the first projects produced by Lu.Ca., a partnership between the regions of Basilicata and Calabria. Launched last year with the short film "The Millionairs," which also served as the directorial debut for award-winning actor Claudio Santamaria with his longtime friend and collaborator Gabriele Marinetti at the helm as executive producer, premiered at the 74th Venice Film Festival and a few weeks later at the Rome Creative Contest. I spoke with Paride Leporace, the director of the Lucana Film Commission, about Lu.Ca.'s mission and future projects. Our conversation was in Italian, so both versions are included.

Claudia Santamaria (L) and Gabriele Marinetti (R) present
"The Millionairs" at the Rome Creative Contest

So far, there have been two films coming out of this collaboration between Basilicata and Calabria.. Jonas Carpignano’s "A Ciambra" and Claudio Santamaria’s "The Millioniars." Tell me about this project, Lu.Ca. and how it works.

Lu.Ca. is an agreement between the two regions to work synergistically with the film commissions of Basilicata and Calabria on shared works. The projects made in their own territories are financed by the expenses allocated according to their pertinence. This allows for the productions to operate smoothly with small investments. Now we are working on a new short and a feature film on the Albanian populations of the two regions.

Finora, sono state due film usciti da questa collaborazione tra Basilicata e Calabria... "A Ciambra" e "The Millioniars." Raccontami questo progetto, LuCa.

LuCa e’ un accordo tra le due regioni per far operare in sinergia le film commission di Basilicata e Calabria su opere condivise sui propri territori e con le spese ripartite per le ricadute nelle proprie pertinenze. Tutto questo per consentire migliore operatività e ottenere economie di scale. I risultati sono stati conseguiti con piccoli investimenti. Ora sono in lavorazione un nuovo corto e un lungometraggio sulle popolazioni albanese delle due regioni.

Paride Leporace with Maratea Mayor Domenico Cipolla
at the Giornate del Cinema Lucana in July

Was "A Ciambra" shot in both regions?

A small story prologue was shot in Basilicata around the Senise Dam. It's great footage that should be included in the DVD version. The rest was shot in Gioia Tauro in Calabria.

"A Ciambra" e' stato girato in entrambe le regioni? (Ho letto solo la Calabria.)

"A Ciambra" ha realizzato un piccolo prologo alla storia girato attorno alla Diga di Senise. E' avanzato buon materiale che dovrebbe essere contenuto nel Dvd. Io spero in un corto firmato Carpignano come sequel del film. Il resto del film è stato girato a Gioia Tauro in Calabria.

Was there also a collaboration of regional actors and crew members?

Yes, a great location manager from Rotonda (In Basilicata) and a number of service providers in the area. Keep in mind that it’s a low-budget indie movie.

Ci sono attori e lavoratori della regione nel film?

Un bravissimo location manager di Rotonda e numerose aziende di servizi della zona. Ricordiamoci che è un film Indie a basso costo.

What's in the future for Lu.Ca.?

An international TV series and various screenplay development projects to be shot between Basilicata and Calabria.

Cosa c'è in futuro per Lu.Ca.?

Una serie tv internazionale e progetti di sviluppo per sceneggiature su progetti adeguati ad essere girati tra Basilicata e Calabria.

Stateside, "A Ciambra" will be shown at the upcoming Chicago Film Festival.

Comments

Ornella Muti: Five decades of Acting and Still Going Strong

Ornella Muti was born Francesca Romana Rivelli in Rome in 1955 to a Neapolitan father and an Estonian mother. She began her career as a model during her teenage years and made her film debut in 1970 with “La Moglie più bella” (The Most Beautiful Wife). Her follow-up role was in the 1971 film, “Sole nella pelle” (Sun on the Skin), in which she played the daughter of wealthy parents who runs off with a hippie they don’t approve of. The film offers a telling journey through Italian society in the seventies, with its political climate, breathtaking seaside, and the styles and cars of that time. Much of the film is set amid the sunny Italian seaside and captures the innocence and beauty of first love. Muti made her American film debut in 1980 with "Flash Gordon." She played the role of Princess Aura. She’s appeared in two other American films, including “Oscar,” directed by John Landis and starring Don Ameche, Chazz Palminteri, and Sylvester Stallone. In 1992, she w...

Model/Actress Anna Falchi

Anna Falchi was born Anna Kristiina Palomaki, on April 22, 1972, in Tampere, Finland. Her mother, Kaarina Palomaki Sisko, is Finnish, while her father, Benito "Tito" Falchi, is from Romagna, Italy. Growing up in Italy, Anna was a tomboy, and had a fervent imagination. She is known mostly for her prolific career in modelling. However, she tried her hand at acting and landed a role in one of my favorite Italian comedies, Nessun messaggio in segreteria . I consider it my one of my favorites because it brought together so many amazing, talented filmmakers during a time when they were all just starting out. Those filmmakers, Pierfrancesco Favino, Valerio Mastandrea, Luca Miniero and Paolo Genovese are now huge names in contemporary Italian cinema, so it's great to look back and see their work in a low-profile film completely different from the bigger-budget stardom they now know. Watch the trailer . Anna Falchi started her career as a...

Federico Fellini: A Look into the Life and Career of an Icon

A Fellini family portrait “The term became a common word to describe something on the surface you can say is bizarre or strange, but actually is really like a painter working on a film,” said Martin Scorsese when asked to define “Felliniesque,” an adjective inspired by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The oldest of three children, Federico Fellini was born in the seaside town of Rimini in 1920. His father was a traveling salesman, so his mother was left to do the bulk of raising the children. One can argue that Fellini was born for his destiny. “You could tell that even as a child, he was different and unique. He was very intelligent, well above average. He was always the one to organize things, direct the others, make up games. He could control the other kids with just a look, said Fellini’s sister, Maddalena, in an interview with journalist Gideon Bachmann. Not only was Fellini directing the children, but he was also putting on shows and charging ...

Gianni Amelio: An Iconic Filmmaker Inspired by Humble Beginnings

The films of this year’s edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema, the annual film series hosted by the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York, reflect a country in crisis. Italians are facing unprecedented economic challenges right now with the loss of jobs and a political infrastructure lacking the stability needed to get the country back on track. Each director featured in the Open Roads festival communicates that crisis in a uniquely different way; some with comedy, some with anger and resentment, and others with humble characters who will do just about anything to put food on the table. This brings me to veteran director, Gianni Amelio, and what a class act. I had the pleasure of talking with Amelio while he was in New York promoting two films included in this year’s edition of Open Roads- a documentary titled, "Happy to be Different," which explores gay life in Italy after the fall of fascism through the early '80s and "L’intrepido," the story of ...

A Conversation with Actor- Luca Calvani from Warner Bros. Upcoming Release "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."

The cast and filmmakers of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in Rome A few years ago, I interviewed actor, Luca Calvani on the occasion of his U.S. release, When in Rome . Today, we are revisiting our conversation as he is promoting his much anticipated spy thriller, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the all-star cast includes Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Jared Harris, and Hugh Grant. Based on the television series by Sam Rolfe, the story is set in the 1960's and follows CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin as they participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons. The U.S. release date is set for August 14, but the cast recently did some press for the film in the Eternal City, where much of it was shot. Luca Calvani Born in Tuscany, Calvani has traveled the world following his career. He began working as a model in the 1990's...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog