The City of the Living: Venice & Toronto-Bound True Crime Drama Unveiled

PiperPlay has boarded international sales on Edoardo Gabbriellini's highly anticipated true crime drama The City of the Living (La città dei vivi) ahead of its world premiere in the Orizzonti competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival and its North American debut in Toronto's Centrepiece strand. The feature is freely inspired by Italian writer Nicola Lagioia's award-winning, best-selling true-crime novel that delves into the circumstances surrounding the senseless and sadistic murder of a much-loved young man in 2016 — a case that shocked Rome and reverberated across the world.

Primary Overview

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival, set to run from September 2 to 12, 2026, at Venice Lido in Italy, will host the world premiere of The City of the Living within its prestigious Orizzonti competition — a section dedicated to films that represent the latest aesthetic and expressive trends in international cinema. Shortly after, the film will make its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF26) as part of the Centrepiece program, solidifying its status as one of the most talked-about European dramas of the season.

The film draws its powerful narrative from Nicola Lagioia's 2020 novel, published by Giulio Einaudi Editore. The book, which won the Premio Internazionale Bottari Lattes Grinzane, the Premio Alessandro Leogrande, and the Premio Napoli, reconstructs the brutal murder of 23-year-old Luca Varani in March 2016 at the hands of Marco Prato and Manuel Foffo — two young men from affluent families who subjected their victim to hours of torture in an anonymous apartment on the outskirts of Rome.

The Film's Poetic Perspective

Rather than offering a conventional crime reconstruction, Gabbriellini's film frames the events from a tender and deeply poetic perspective. The director shifts the narrative focus away from the graphic details of the murder itself and toward its origins — exploring the human, cultural, and emotional dynamics that led to such an unimaginable act of violence.

The official synopsis introduces audiences to Luca, a twenty-three-year-old who lives with the family that adopted and loves him. He moves between the suburbs and the city center with his friends and shares a young yet profoundly significant love with his girlfriend. Through Luca's world, the film examines themes of belonging, youth, love, and the fragility of life — all set against the backdrop of a Rome suspended between urban decay and nocturnal glamour.

Exploring the Darkness Beneath the Surface

Lagioia's novel — and by extension Gabbriellini's adaptation — goes beyond the confines of a standard true-crime narrative. It functions as an investigation into evil, responsibility, guilt, and the disturbingly short distance that separates ordinary individuals from acts of monstrosity. The story dissects the psychological and social undercurrents of the crime, touching upon substance abuse among youth, the corrosive influence of social media, sexual confusion, and the broader moral degradation of contemporary Rome.

Cast and Creative Team

In his first starring role, rising young actor Emanuele Maria Di Stefano takes on the lead role of Luca, anchoring the film with what is expected to be a breakout performance. He is joined by a talented ensemble including Gaia Merlonghi, Simona Senzacqua, Roberta Mattei, and veteran actor Valerio Mastandrea, whose presence lends significant dramatic weight to the project.

Director's Vision and Previous Work

Edoardo Gabbriellini, who is both a director and an actor, previously played in Toronto's Centrepiece sidebar with his last film Holiday, which also revolved around the fallout and human consequences of a crime. With The City of the Living, he mounts his fourth feature film and continues his exploration of how violence ripples through communities and families, leaving indelible scars on those left behind.

Notably, acclaimed filmmaker Luca Guadagnino serves as one of the producers on the project, bringing his considerable industry influence and artistic credibility to the production. Guadagnino, known for internationally celebrated works such as Call Me by Your Name and Challengers, adds significant prestige to the film's already impressive pedigree.

Production and Distribution

The City of the Living is produced by Eagle Pictures, Cinemaundici, and Lungtafilm, with the participation of HBO Max. Eagle Pictures, one of Italy's top distributors that also handles Paramount and Sony Pictures releases in the Italian market, will bring the film to cinemas across Italy, ensuring a robust domestic rollout.

PiperPlay: A Strategic Sales Partnership

Rome-based PiperPlay, a joint venture formed in 2025 between Italian production and distribution powerhouse PiperFilm and Playtime within the Vuelta Group, has taken on international sales for the film. This strategic partnership positions The City of the Living for a strong global presence, leveraging PiperPlay's growing reputation as a key player in the international film market.

Festival Slate and Industry Context

PiperPlay's summer and fall festival slate extends beyond The City of the Living, showcasing the company's ambitious international profile. The lineup also includes the Locarno International Competition title Ketticè by Giovanni Tortorici, the Venice Orizzonti Competition title Children of the Monkey, and Venice's closing film God Laughs (Dio Ride) by Giovanni Veronesi.

The 83rd Venice Film Festival will be presided over by American actress and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal as Jury President for the main competition, while Italian actors Greta Scarano and Nicolas Maupas will host the opening and closing ceremonies. The festival will open with Danny Boyle's biographical drama Ink and close with Giovanni Veronesi's period drama God Laughs.

Critical and Cultural Significance

The adaptation of The City of the Living arrives at a moment when true-crime narratives continue to dominate global audiences, yet Gabbriellini's approach promises something markedly different. By refusing to sensationalize the violence and instead centering the emotional and cultural landscape that produced it, the film aligns itself with a more contemplative tradition of European cinema — one that uses crime as a lens through which to examine society itself.

Lagioia's source material has been widely praised by Italian literary critics for its unflinching yet humane examination of the Varani case. Critics have noted that the novel transforms a horrifying news story into a profound meditation on the nature of evil, the failures of contemporary urban life, and the invisible threads that connect victims and perpetrators within the same social fabric.

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