Italy’s ‘A Ciambra’ is Oscar contender for best-foreign language film category

Italy has selected Jonas Carpignano’s A Ciambra as its submission for consideration for the foreign-language film Oscar.

The film, which was executive produced by Martin Scorsese, debuted at Cannes in the Directors’ Fortnight, where it won the Europa Cinema Labels Award. It will be released by Sundance Selects in North America.

A Ciambra stars 14-year-old Pio Amato and is set in the Romani community of Southern Italy. It is considered to be a companion piece to Carpignano’s first feature, Mediterranea (2015). The Hollywood Reporter described A Ciambra as “a raw and distinctive coming-of-age portrait,” calling Carpignano “a gifted practitioner of Italian neo-neorealism.”

Carpignano, who was born in New York City, has created a singular style of filmmaking, living in Southern Italy among the communities where he is filming and finding non-actors with incredible life stories.

A Ciambra was produced by Stayblack Productions, RT Features, Sikelia Productions and RAI Cinema in association with DCM, Haut et Court, Film i Vast and Filmgate Films.

Italy holds the record for most foreign-language film Oscar wins with 14 in total (including three honorary prizes) over 31 nominated movies. Director Paolo Sorrentino last won in 2014 for The Great Beauty. Italy’s 2016 submission, Fire at Sea, by Gianfranco Rosi, did not secure a foreign-language film Oscar nomination, but was nominated for best documentary.

Italys A Ciambra is Oscar contender for best-foreign language film category

Italy has selected Jonas Carpignanos A Ciambra as its submission for consideration for the foreign-language film Oscar. The film, which was executive produced by Martin Scorsese, debuted at Cannes in the Directors Fortnight, where it won the Europa Cinema Labels Award. It will be released by Sundance Selects in North America. A Ciambra stars 14-year-old Pio Amato and is set in the Romani community of Southern Italy. It is considered to be a companion piece to Carpignanos first feature, Mediterranea (2015). The Hollywood Reporter described A Ciambra as a raw and distinctive coming-of-age portrait, calling Carpignano a gifted practitioner of Italian neo-neorealism. Carpignano, who was born in New York City, has created a singular style of filmmaking, living in Southern Italy among the communities where he is filming and finding non-actors with incredible life stories. A Ciambra was produced by Stayblack Productions, RT Features, Sikelia Productions and RAI Cinema in association with DCM, Haut et Court, Film i Vast and Filmgate Films. Italy holds the record for most foreign-language film Oscar wins with 14 in total (including three honorary prizes) over 31 nominated movies. Director Paolo Sorrentino last won in 2014 for The Great Beauty. Italys 2016 submission, Fire at Sea, by Gianfranco Rosi, did not secure a foreign-language film Oscar nomination, but was nominated for best documentary.