‘Vermiglio’: Sideshow & Janus Films Set U.S. Release Date For Italy’s Oscar Submission

EXCLUSIVE: Sideshow and Janus Films have set a December 25 U.S. theatrical release date for Venice Silver Lion winner Vermiglio. The drama from writer, director and producer Maura Delpero is also Italy’s submission to the Best International Feature Film Oscar category. Delpero is the first woman to represent the country in 19 years.

A portrait of a sprawling family, Vermiglio is set in 1944, in the titular high-mountain village of the Italian Alps where war looms as a distant but constant threat. The arrival of Pietro (Giuseppe De Domenico), a taciturn Sicilian soldier who hides out in town after deserting the army, disrupts the dynamics of the local teacher’s family, changing them forever. He develops a romance with the eldest daughter, Lucia (Martina Scrinzi), which ends up having unforeseen consequences for everyone. As the world emerges from its tragedy, the family will face its own.

Also starring are Tommaso Ragno and Roberta Rovelli.

The film is shot by Mikhail Krichman (Leviathan, Loveless) and is garnering buzz for its cinematography. Producers are Francesca Andreoli, Leonardo Guerra Seràgnoli, Delpero, Santiago Fondevila Sancet, Carole Baraton, Pauline Boucheny Pinon, Jacques-Henri Bronckart and Tatjana Kozar.

Lucky Red is handling distribution in the home market where Vermiglio is performing strongly with over $2.2 million at the local box office since its release in late September. Charades and Anonymous Content handle international sales.

Sideshow and Janus Films together have received six Oscar nominations in three years including four for Drive My Car. This year they are also campaigning Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light in all categories and are handling Gints Zilbaldis’ Flow, the Latvian Oscar entry and Animated Feature contender.