"Portobello"
Beta and Mediawan join forces on official Venice and Toronto entry "Portobello" by multi-awarded director Marco Bellocchio. "Portobello" tells the story of star presenter Enzo Tortora, the “king” of Italian television in the 1980s, and a chain of tragic events that led to the ruin of an innocent man.
Beta Film and Mediawan Rights have partnered to handle the international distribution of the drama series directed by the multi-awarded Marco Bellocchio ("The Traitor", "Exterior Night", "Kidnapped"). The six-hour drama will celebrate its world premiere as one of the very few handpicked television series at this year’s Venice International Film Festival in the Out of Competition section. From the producers behind "My Brilliant Friend" and "The Young Pope", the drama series will also be presented at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of their Primetime section.
"Portobello" is produced by Our Films, a Mediawan group company, and Kavac Film, in co-production with ARTE France and in collaboration with Rai Fiction and The Apartment Pictures, a Fremantle group company. It is produced by Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani for Our Films and by Simone Gattoni for Kavac Film. "Portobello" will be the first HBO Original Italian production to launch on the HBO Max streaming platform, debuting in 2026.
In 1982, Enzo Tortora is at the height of his success. He hosts the legendary TV show called "Portobello", reaching 28 million viewers, when he suddenly and unexpectedly finds himself in the crosshairs of law enforcement targeting the Mafia. Just two years earlier, the crime syndicate Nuova Camorra had received a final blow. Now, regular "Portobello" viewer and leading mobster in custody Giovanni Pandico decides to confess. When questioned by the judges, Giovanni gives them an unexpected name: Enzo Tortora. On June 17, 1983, the Carabinieri knock on the door of Enzo’s hotel room. He thinks it must be a mistake, but it is only the beginning of an odyssey that will drag him from the top into the abyss.
The series stars Fabrizio Gifuni ("My Brilliant Friend") in the lead role as Enzo Tortora, alongside Lino Musella ("Hand of God"), Romana Maggiora Vergano ("La Storia"), Barbora Bobulova ("Sicilian Letters"), Carlotta Gamba ("Dostoevskij"), Alessandro Preziosi ("Leopardi. The Poet of the Infinite"), Fausto Russo Alesi ("Kidnapped", "Exterior Night"), and Salvatore D’Onofrio ("Il Divo"). The series is written by Marco Bellocchio, Stefano Bises ("Gomorrah"), Giordana Mari ("My Love"), and Peppe Fiore ("The King").
Oliver Bachert, Chief Distribution Officer at Beta Film, referred to the production and distribution process when he stated:
‘We are very proud to join such a strong project together with Mediawan on the distribution side as well as Our Films and Kavac Film on the production side. "Portobello" sheds light on one of Italy’s most controversial and dramatic miscarriages of justice. With its powerful storytelling centered around the tragic case of Enzo Tortora, we’re confident that the series will celebrate a memorable premiere in Venice and will go on to captivate audiences worldwide. We are excited to continue our long-lasting collaboration with Marco Bellocchio’s Kavac Film. Certainly, "Portobello" will follow the success of Beta’s highlight series, such as "Gomorrah", "Rocco Schiavone", and "The Sea Beyond," noted.
For her part, Valérie Vleeschouwer, CEO of Mediawan Rights, assured that the agreement highlights their ongoing support of international talent: "We are proud to support a talent such as Marco Bellocchio, one of the most influential and acclaimed Italian filmmakers. It’s a real pleasure to partner with Beta Film on the international distribution of this prestigious program. And it reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting the world’s best talents and IPs," highlighted.