RAI Cinema Bolsters New World Sales Unit in Cannes With 4 Titles, Including Toni Servillo-Starrer ‘The Blunder’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Italian state broadcaster RAI’s new world sales arm is gaining traction in Cannes — following its soft launch in Berlin — with four new titles on its slate, including veteran auteur Roberto Andò’s historical drama “The Blunder” starring Toni Servillo (“The Great Beauty”).

In “The Blunder,” which is currently shooting in Sicily, Servillo plays a Sicilian colonel at the head of a ragtag unit trying to outsmart the enemy during the 1860 battle led by Giuseppe Garibaldi that resulted in the unification of Italy (see first-look image, above).

“The Blunder,” which also stars popular Sicilian comic duo Salvatore Ficarra and Valentino Picone, is produced by Tramp Limited and Bibi Film with RAI Cinema and Medusa, in collaboration with Netflix.

Other titles added during Cannes on the RAI Cinema International Distribution slate include – as previously announced – “Of Dogs and Men,” the upcoming drama by Israeli director Dani Rosenberg (“The Death of Cinema and My Father Too”) set and filmed in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. The film follows 16-year-old Dar, who is returning to her kibbutz to look for her dog which was lost during the terror spree. “Of Dogs and Men” is an international co-production between Donatella Palermo’s Stemal Entertainment with RAI Cinema, AR Content, and Laila Films.

Additionally, RAI Cinema has taken world sales on “Adriatica” (working title), the debut feature by Italian actor Greta Scarano starring A-lister Matilda De Angelis, who made her international breakthrough in Susanne Bier’s “The Undoing” and more recently appeared in Prime Video’s “Citadel” and alongside Liev Schrieber in Paula Ortiz’s “Across the River and Into the Trees.” “Adriatica,” which is about a young woman named Irene who returns to her hometown to care for her autistic brother, is produced by Groenlandia and Halong with RAI Cinema.

The fourth addition to the RAI Cinema International slate is Italy-set comic Western “Heads or Tails” by sophomore directorial duo Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis (“The Tale of King Crab”), which is inspired by a true event that took place during Buffalo Bill’s stay in Italy. “Heads or Tails” is produced by Ring Film with RAI Cinema.

In a statement, RAI Cinema CEO Paolo Del Brocco said that “RAI Cinema International Distribution was born a few months ago and we are proud of all the titles we have brought on board so far.”

“This brand new [sales] arm reflects RAI Cinema’s desire to represent all types of cinema capable of reaching different audiences, as well as its intention to support the Italian film industry abroad,” he added.