EXCLUSIVE: Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired U.S. rights to Giovanni Tortorici‘s feature directorial debut Diciannove, the coming-of-age drama produced by Oscar nominee Luca Guadagnino.
The pic, which made its world premiere at Venice last year, stars Manfredi Marini, Vittoria Planeta, Zackari Delmas, Dana Giuliano and Luca Lazzareschi. It will have its North American premiere this weekend as the closing night film of MoMI’s 2025 First Look Festival in New York.
Diciannove (which translates to “nineteen” in Italian) follows the highs and lows of a restless youth as he collides headlong into the concrete realities of adulthood when Leonardo (Manfredi Marini), a teenager from Palermo leaves home for the first time. His studies land him in Siena, by way of London, where he clashes with his instructor, the curriculum and, most chaotically, with himself.
Andrew Carlin, Theatrical distribution head at Oscilloscope Laboratories said: “For a first-time filmmaker, Giovanni directs with an unbelievable amount of verve and confidence. He plays whimsically with so many different techniques that we couldn’t help but fall under his spell. In a theatrical market that too often overlooks international cinema, Diciannove is a film that demands to be seen. We’re thrilled to have the privilege of introducing it — and this emerging talent — to American arthouse audiences.”
Tortorici added, “I am deeply honored and thrilled that my first film, Diciannove, will be distributed in the United States by Oscilloscope, such a prestigious distribution company whose work I greatly admire.”
The feature was produced by Guadagnino, Agustina Costa Varsi and Marco Morabito (Frenesy Film Company), Paula Vaccaro and Aaron Brookner (Pinball London), Francesco Melzi D’Eril and Gabriele Moratti (Memo Films), Alex Garcia (AG Studios) and Moreno Zani (Tenderstories). EPs are Malcom Pagani (Tenderstories), Alejandra Garcia and Federica Garcia (Latam Pictures) and Daniela Venturelli (Frenesy Film Company).
The deal was negotiated by Aaron Katz, VP Acquisitions at Oscilloscope Laboratories, with Range Select on behalf of the filmmakers.