Beta and Mediawan team in the TV series’ Portobello ‘by Marco Bellocchio’
The Beta film of Germany and the Mediawan -Rights of France have worked together to process international sales in selected areas on the Italian author Marco Bellocchio’s “Portobello” TV series, which reconstructs one of the most clamourous trests of justice of Italy.
The Six episode Limited Series bends on Monday at the Film Festival of Venice.
As previously announced, “Portobello” will be the first HBO original Italian production that is launching at HBO Max -Streaming platform, debuting in 2026. The series will be available worldwide on HBO Max, including the US, Latin -America and Europe, excluding France and Germany.
“Portobello” dives into the true story of the popular Italian TV -host tortora who, among other things, held a Primetime game show entitled “Portobello” that was broadcast on the Italian state broadcaster from 1977 for seven seasons.
In 1985, Tortora was accused by various alleged ex-Mobsters who played informants and witnesses of the State of a Napolitan crime syndicate dedicated to drug trafficking. After being sentenced to 10 years in prison and spent some time behind the bars – plus a long -term process – the conviction of Tortora was ultimately completely destroyed by the Italian Supreme Court in 1987 in the midst of widespread conviction that the TV guestheer was the victim of corrupt judges and officers of justice.
The cast “Portobello” consists of frequent Bellocchio -employee Fabrizio Gifuni such as Tortora, Plus Lino Musella, Romana Maggiora Vergano, Barbora Bobulova, Alessandro Preziosi and Fausto Russo Alesi.
Gifuni previously played as former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro in the limited TV series ‘External Night’ by Bellocchio about the kidnapping and murder of the leader of the country by the terrorists of Red Brigades.
“Portobello” is produced by Bellocchio’s Kavac film in combination with Mediawan ownership our films. It is a co -production of Arte France, also in collaboration with Fremantle’s The Apartment Pictures. “Portobello” is written by Bellocchio with Stefano Bisses (“Gomorra”), Giordana Mari (“My Love”) and Peppe Fiore (“The King”).
After Venice, “Portobello” will also screen at the film festivals of Toronto and Busan.
“We are very proud to participate in such a strong project together with Mediawan on the distribution side, as well as our films and Kavac film on the production side,” said Oliver Bachert, Chief Distribution Officer at Beta Film. “Certainly, ‘Portobello’ will follow the success of Beta’s highlight series, such as ‘Gomorrah’, ‘Rocco Schiavone’ and ‘The Sea Beyond’.”
Valérie Vleeschouwer, CEO Mediawan Rights happened: “We are proud to support a talent such as Marco Bellocchio, one of the most influential and highly praised Italian filmmakers. It is a real pleasure to collaborate with Beta film about the international distribution of this prestigious program.
