Cannes Classics Doc ‘Vittorio De Sica – Staging Life’ Acquired for World Sales by Italy’s Fandango (EXCLUSIVE)

Fandango Sales has acquired international sales rights to high-profile doc “Vittorio De Sica – Staging Life,” that will soon launch from the Cannes Film Festival‘s Cannes Classics section. 

Directed by Francesco Zippel – who was previously in the same Cannes section with the 2021 doc “Oscar Micheaux – The Superhero of Black Filmmaking” – Zippel’s De Sica portrait delves into the life, work and legacy of this leading figure of Italy’s neo-realist movement who won four Oscars and is known for classics such as “The Bicycle Thief,” “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” and “Two Women.”

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For this piece Zippel had exclusive access to the De Sica family and previously unseen archival materials. “Vittorio De Sica – Staging Life” also features interviews with Wes Anderson – who also serves as executive producer – Isabella Rossellini, Ruben Östlund, Asghar Farhadi and Andrey Zvyagintsev, among other prominent film personalities. The doc is described in promotional materials as “an intimate and multifaceted portrait of an author capable of transforming the observation of reality into universal emotion.”

“I am proud that this film, dedicated to one of the most illustrious figures in the history of cinema and of twentieth-century Italy, will have its world premiere at Cannes in an edition marked by a strong and prestigious auteur focus,” said Zippel in a statement. “Vittorio De Sica is a treasure of world cinema, an artist who has inspired entire generations of directors and actors from every corner of the globe, and I am certain that Cannes will be only the first step in a wonderful journey for our film,” he added.

“We are proud that Francesco Zippel’s film will have its world premiere at Cannes Classics and will represent Italy as the only Italian film,” noted the doc’s producer Federica Paniccia. 

“Vittorio De Sica – Staging Life,” which is produced by Paniccia and Zippel, features an original score by Rodrigo D’Erasmo and Calibro 35, and is edited by Michele Castelli. The doc is a Quoiat Films production in association with Luce Cinecittà, Movimenti Production, and Sky Italia.

Besides handling world sales Fandango will also release “Vittorio De Sica – Staging Life” theatrically in Italy.