An international co-production between Italy’s Sacher Film and France’s Halley Production has completed filming on “Primo Viaggio,” a drama that emerged from last year’s Locarno Film Festival development initiative. Directors Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman helmed the project, which was shot across Naples, Málaga, and Marseille during the summer months. The film is now preparing for its market debut at the Venice Film Festival’s Gap-Financing Market, where producers plan to connect with sales representatives, programmers, and potential investors.
The narrative centers on Carlo, a 20-year-old Neapolitan who accepts a drug-smuggling job to Málaga in hopes of escaping his difficult circumstances. However, his encounters while abroad spark an unexpected personal transformation that diverts him from his original mission and fundamentally changes his trajectory. Producer Andrea Marcelli emphasized that the film continues the documentary-like aesthetic established in the directors’ previous award-winning works, employing non-professional actors including lead Mario Di Frenna, who was discovered through street casting.
The collaboration between the Italian and French producers exemplifies the tradition of Franco-Italian filmmaking partnerships. Marcelli noted the thematic resonance of the story’s Mediterranean setting, observing parallels between the three cities that serve as backdrops. The project represents a success story for the Locarno Alliance 4 Development platform, which facilitated the initial meeting between the production teams that ultimately led to this cross-border creative partnership.
Originally reported by Variety →
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