Mario Gianani, CEO of Fremantle’s Rome-based The Young Pope and My Brilliant Friend production powerhouse Wildside, is enjoying a high-profile time on the international film festival circuit this year.The producer, whose earlier feature film credits include Marco Bellocchio’s Vincere (2009) and Bernardo Bertolucci’s Io E Te (2012), was at Cannes this May with Belgian directorial duo Felix Van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch’s Jury Prize winner The Eight Mountains.He is now at the Venice with a quartet of Italian titles: Emanuele Crialese’s Golden Lion contender L’Immensità, Paolo Virzì’s Out of Competition title Siccità (Dry) and first features Amanda and Ghost Night.Deadline talked to Gianani ahead of the world premiere on Sunday of the 1970s Rome-set drama L’Immensità, starring Penelope Cruz as a mother, whose daughter’s determination to identify as a boy pushes their fragile family dynamics to the edge.DEADLINE: Emanuele Crialese’s recently revealed that the main child character in L’Immensità – a young girl who wants to be a boy – is inspired by his own childhood experiences.

What role did you play in helping to bring this complex story to the big screen?GIANANI: The first time I talked to Emanuele about making a film related to that was several years ago.

It took a lot of time to process. When we finally decided to work together, he had other ideas in mind and I said, “Look, come on, you have to do it, your way, respectfully about what you feel.” The film is personal but at the same time, it’s full of grace.

He doesn’t use the film for politics, he’s making a film for him, about feelings, complexity and characters, and I like this.DEADLINE: How easy was it to get the production off the ground? GIANANI: Emanu

Wildside’s Mario Gianani Talks ‘L’Immensità’ Journey, Complex ‘Limonov’ Shoot, Benefits Of Being In The Fremantle Fold – Venice Q&A

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