Greta Scarano’s Directorial Debut Filmed in Rimini

Greta Scarano’s directorial debut, La vita da grandi (Siblings), has received the European Young Audience Award at the 38th European Film Awards in Berlin on January 17, 2026. The film, which premiered at the 2025 Bari International Film Festival and was screened at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, explores themes of autism and family relationships.

Siblings, released in Italian cinemas on April 3, 2025, by 01 Distribution, is based on the 2020 autobiographical novel Mia sorella mi rompe le balle (‘My sister is busting my balls’) by Margherita and Damiano Tercon. The story centers on Irene, played by Matilda De Angelis, who returns to her hometown of Rimini to care for her autistic brother, Omar, portrayed by Yuri Tuci. Omar is determined to achieve independence and pursue his dream of becoming a rap singer.

Production and Recognition

The film was primarily shot in Rimini, with additional scenes filmed in Bologna and Rome. This proves a production of Groenlandia, Halong and Rai Cinema, in collaboration with Netflix. Scarano also won the Nastro d’Argento award for Best New Director for her work on Siblings, and Yuri Tuci received the Nastro d’Argento for Best Actor in a Comedy Film.

According to a report from chiamamicitta.it, the film’s plot follows Irene as she navigates her brother’s aspirations, which include marriage, having three children, and achieving rap stardom. The narrative highlights the challenges and tenderness of their relationship as they work towards Omar’s independence and Irene confronts her own past.

Cast and Crew

• Matilda De Angelis as Irene Nanni
• Yuri Tuci as Omar Nanni
• Maria Amelia Monti as Piera
• Paolo Hendel as Walter
• Adriano Pantaleo as Ugo
• Christian Ginepro as Ludovico
• Ariella Reggio as Zia Marilù
• Gloria Coco as Nonna Cleta
• Alessandro Cantalini as Marco
• Ludovico Zucconi as Tancredi
• Tom Karumathy as Artrit
• Sara Setti as Sara Ravaglioli
• Mara Maionchi as Herself
• Ferzan Ozpetek as Himself
• Malika Ayane as Herself
• Valerio Lundini as Himself

The film’s crew includes cinematographer Valerio Azzali, editor Valeria Sapienza, and composer Giuseppe Tranquillino Minerva. Greta Scarano co-wrote the screenplay with Sofia Assirelli and Tieta Madia. The film runs for 96 minutes and is in Italian.

Themes and Inspiration

Siblings is noted for its delicate and ironic exploration of autism and family dynamics, drawing inspiration from the true story of Damiano and Margherita Tercon. As noted by the IIC-NY, the film delicately and with irony explores the theme of autism and family relationships. The film premiered at the 2025 Bari International Film Festival, where it received the SIAE Debut Film prize.

The NICE New Italian Cinema Events NYC highlighted that Scarano, primarily known as an actress, makes a successful transition to directing with this project. A video message from Scarano and Tuci accompanied the film’s screening at the IIC-NY on November 20, 2025.

The Emilia-Romagna Film Commission supported the film, with much of the production taking place in the Emilia-Romagna region, including Rimini, Bologna, and surrounding areas. This support was highlighted following the European Young Audience Award win, demonstrating the region’s commitment to investing in quality film projects.