BALCANICA
by Nicola Sorcinelli
Italy, Serbia, Croatia, 2026, 86’
Crossing the Balkans in search of new stages to play, musicians Nazar and his son Jalil carry a silenced country with them. When they meet the Italian doctor, Greta, their lives will change forever.
When music is outlawed in Afghanistan, the orchestra conductor Nasar and his tuba-playing son Jalil are forced to leave everything behind. Their journey along the Balkan route toward Italy is uncertain, yet it carries the hope of finding a place where they can play again. Along the way, they meet Greta, an Italian doctor. Together, the three navigate choices that will change all of their lives.
Awards
Audience Award; Carlo Lizzani Award - Venice IFF 2026
Festivals
Giornate degli Autori (Venice Days) – 83rd Venice International Film Festival 2026
Cast & Crew
Matilda De Angelis (The Undoing, Fuori, The Law According to Lidia Poët), Silver Bear winner Babak Karimi (A Separation, The Salesman), Ivar Wafaei
Written by: Nicola Sorcinelli, Andrea Brusa
Production Companies: Nightswim (Italy), Wildside, a Fremantle company, (Italy), This and That Production (Serbia), Antitalent (Croatia)
Associate producers: M74, Nieminen Film
Producers: Ines Vasiljević, Stefano Sardo, Sonia Rovai, Ludovica Damiani
Coproducers: Snežana van Houwelingen, Katarina Prpic, Danijel Pek
Associate Producers: Monica Galantucci, Andrea Italia, Matilda De Angelis
Nicola Sorcinelli
Nicola Sorcinelli is an Italian director. He began his career as BTS filmmaker and assistant director to leading filmmakers while shooting short films selected and awarded at major international festivals, including Academy Awards-qualifying selections. His short Moby Dick won the Nastro d’Argento award. In 2024, he directed the short Ape Regina, produced in collaboration with the NGO Emergency. He later directed La confessione, shortlisted in 2025 for both the David di Donatello and the Nastri d’Argento Awards. He also directed several episodes of the series Briganti and In Utero. In 2026 he wrote and directed his first feature film, Balcanica, the only Italian film selected in competition at the XXIII Giornate degli Autori of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
2017 - MOBY DICK - Corto
2019 - APE REGINA - Corto
2023 - BRIGANTI - Miniserie
2024 - LA CONFESSIONE - Corto
2025 - A MINUTE HISTORY - Doc
2026 - IN UTERO - Miniserie
2026 - BALCANICA - Film
