by Nathaniel R
Italy doesn't really make it easy for their selection committee! Most countries pick a handful of finalists (if they have a finalist list at all) before making their Oscar selection. Even France, which makes lots of movies each year, narrows it down to just three or four before the choice is made. But Italy has a list of 25 (gulp) titles to decide between for their Oscar submission which they'll announce on November 24th. Italy is a powerhouse with Oscar as the #2 most often nominated country (behind only France) and the #1 most winning country (ahead of France). The 25 titles they're looking at are after the jump if you're interested...
- 18 Presents Francesco Amato
This sentimental true story drama is currently streaming on Netflix - Aspromonte: Land of the Forgotten Mimmo Calopresti
1950s set drama about a village without a road. Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Marco Leonardi star - Bar Giuseppe Giulio Base
Drama starring Ivano Marescotti
- The Goddess of Fortune Ferzan Ozpetek
Gay drama which won Best Actor x 2 at the Golden Ciak Awards and Best Actress from both the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists and the David di Donatello Awards. Ozpetek has been making gay Italian movies for two decades now so it'd be nice if they submitted him one of these years. - Il delitto Mattarella Aurelio Grimaldi
A crime drama - Bad Tales Damiano & Fabio D’innocenzo
Suburban drama which won Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography from the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists. Elio Germano is among the stars - Rose Island Sydney Sibilia
An engineer builds himself an island and declares it its own nation in this dramedy. Busy Elio Germano stars - Citizens of the World Gianni Di Gregorio
A comedy about senior citizens leaving Rome to live abroad - Thou Shalt Not Hate Mauro Mancini
Drama about the son of a Holocaust survivor. Allesandro Gassman, who is the son of major Italian film star Vittorio Gassman headlines. - Notturno Gianfranco Rosi
Documentary about the Middle East. Previously reviewed here. Rosi was previously submitted for his documentary Fire at Sea in 2016
- Padrenostro Claudio Noce
Pierfrancesco Favino won Best Actor in Venice for this drama. Capsule review from Venice. - Picciridda con i piedi nella sabbia Paolo Licata
Female focused drama - Pinocchio Matteo Garrone
Another live action adaptation of the fairy tale. This time from the director of Dogman and Gomorrah, both of which were submitted to the Oscars. He won Best Director from the Italian National Syndicate of Film Critics for this. This was also the only title from last year's Best Film nominees at the Donatello Awards (Italy's Oscars) to be eligible for submission this year (the others were considered last season including Martin Eden and the eventual submission The Traitor) - The Predators Pietro Castellitto
A comedy about conflicts in Rome
- The Macaluso Sisters Emma Dante
One of five sisters dies, turning the lives of the other four upside down in this drama - The Stonebreakers Gianluca & Massimiliano De Serio
A drama about a widower who made his son a foolish promise about his mom coming back to life - Out of My League Alice Filippi
A romantic comedy - The Shift Alessandro Tonda
A drama about a terrorist attack at a school - Tornare Cristina Comencini
Drama from the director of Don't Tell, an Oscar nominee in 2005 - Trash Francesco Dafano & Luca Della Grotta
An animated comedy about garbage (Forky would love it) - All My Crazy Love Gabriele Salvatores
A family drama with Valeria Golino. Salvatores was submitted once before in 2003 with I'm Not Scared
- Into the Labyrinth Donato Carrisi
A horror film about a kidnapped girl who resurfaces - The Truth About La dolce vita di Giuseppe Pedersoli
A documentary on Federico Fellini's classic - The Life Ahead Edoardo Ponti
This is the highest profile title since it features the comeback of Sophia Loren. It's currently streaming on Netflix and we've already discussed it on the podcast and reviewed it, too. - Hidden Away Giorgio Diritti
A biopic about a loner artist starring Elio Germano who won Best Actor at Berlinale for this.