Brief
Margherita Ferrari debuts ‘Föa – Once Upon a Future’ at Busan with Paolo Sorrentino producing
The film, set in Genoa during the 2001 G8 clashes, blends fable and history and is backed by Sorrentino’s Numero 10.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Debuting Italian filmmaker Margherita Ferrari is presenting her first feature, Föa – Once Upon a Future, at the Busan International Film Festival, with acclaimed director Paolo Sorrentino serving as producer, Variety reported.
What happened
The drama unfolds in Genoa during the violent July 2001 G8 summit, following 18‑year‑old Nicole, who is eight months pregnant and shelters three protesters in her home. The film uses a fable‑like tone to revisit the anti‑globalisation clashes that marked the summit.
What the reports add
Variety notes that the project began as Ferrari’s graduation short at Rome’s Centro Sperimentale film school before she pitched an expanded version to Sorrentino. The production is co‑produced by Sorrentino’s company Numero 10, alongside The Apartment and PiperFilm, with PiperPlay handling international sales. The cast includes emerging actors Gaia Ravina, Clara Tramontano, Iker Urgoiti and Gabriele Falsetta.
What was said
In a statement to Variety, Sorrentino said, “‘Föa’ begins with a wound that history never quite managed to close,” adding that Ferrari “turns the memory of Genoa into something intimate and dreamlike.” He also said, “At a time when imagination needs to be protected, supporting new authors and their singular visions feels more important than ever,” and praised the film’s “powerful female gaze.”
How it came about
Ferrari recalled that the memory of July 20, 2001, when she was four, resurfaced during the pandemic, inspiring the film’s themes of isolation and collective powerlessness. She described the story as a modern fairy tale that speaks to present concerns while rooted in a specific historical moment. The collaboration with Sorrentino emerged after he saw her short and agreed to produce, marking his first producing credit.
Key facts
- Margherita Ferrari’s debut feature is titled ‘Föa – Once Upon a Future’ (variety.com)
- The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival (variety.com)
- Paolo Sorrentino is producing the film through his company Numero 10 (variety.com)
- The story is set in Genoa during the July 2001 G8 summit clashes (variety.com)
- The cast includes Gaia Ravina, Clara Tramontano, Iker Urgoiti and Gabriele Falsetta (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “Margherita Ferrari on Working With Paolo Sorrentino on Directorial Debut ‘Föa — Once Upon a Future’: ‘He Helped Me Pursue and Protect My Vision’”
