06/08/2003

The ascent of Marco Tullio Giordana’s six-hour epic about recent contemporary Italian history, La meglio gioventù [+see also:
trailer
film profile] appears unstoppable.
It is the only Italian title in the domestic Top 10. It won Un Certain Regard in Cannes, and now this title has been picked up for distribution in a number of territories including North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, English-speaking Canada adn New Zealand by Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax from RaiTrade, headed by Roberto Di Russo. The deal was brokered by Fabrizio Lombardo, deputy managing director of Miramax Italy.
“Rai Trade is proud to have found such a prestigious partner for the distribution of La meglio gioventù,” said Di Russo. “This is a significant new step forward for Italian culture and raises our international profile, and everyone involved shares the hope that this is the beginning of a mutually profitable collaboration that will grow and develop. It is great to see that friendship and professionality can generate business in international markets.” With this acquisition, Miramax set a new record for buying Italian titles after its earlier purchase – at the Berlinale 2003 - of Gabriele Salvatores’ I’m Not Scared.

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(Translated from Italian)