Donato Rotunno's IO STO BENE will defend Luxembourg's colours in the race for the 2022 Oscars
The film Io sto bene by Luxembourg director Donato Rotunno has been chosen to represent the Grand Duchy at the 94e edition of Academy Awardsin the Best Foreign Film category.
The national Oscar selection committee, organised under the patronage of the Filmakademie and made up of representatives of associations and institutions from Luxembourg's audiovisual sector, highlighted the artistic quality of the work and the fact that the subject matter was perfectly in tune with current socio-cultural life on the theme of immigration, an eminently important issue in Luxembourg's history.
The Commission also particularly appreciated the mastery of the production, the direction of the actors and the accuracy of the shots. The impressive performances of the performers and technicians (most of whom are nationals of Luxembourg) add a further creative touch to this fine Luxembourg production.
The film was screened at the opening of the Rome Film Festival. Alice nella Città in October 2020 and has been selected for several festivals, including the Mons International Film Festival in Belgium. It will shortly be in competition at the Hof International Filmfestival in Germany and the closing night of the Villerupt Italian Film Festival in France.
In Luxembourg cinemas since 13 October 2021, the film will be released in Italy in November 2021 and in Belgium in March 2022.
Donato Rotunno has directed a number of documentaries, including Terra Mia Terra Nostra, Les Mesures du rectangle, Blà Blä Blá. His first feature film, In a Dark Place won the prize for best artistic contribution at the Lëtzebuerger Filmpräis in 2007. Sound 2e fiction film Baby(a)loneadapted from the novel Amok by Tullio Forgiarini, was chosen to represent Luxembourg at the 88e Academy Awards. Io sto bene is his third feature film. With his company Tarantula Luxembourg, he has also produced some thirty films to date.
Io sto bene will be submitted to the Oscars Academy Committee, which will in turn select the 5 foreign films for the Oscars ceremony, scheduled for 27 March 2022. The nominations in the "International Feature Film" category of the Academy Awards will be announced on 8 February 2022.
