“Special Prize of the Jury” in Venice
The Mafia Is No Longer What It Used to Be (La mafia non è più quella di una volta), directed by Franco Maresco and co-produced by Daring House, has been awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 76th Venice International Film Festival. The film offers a powerful and unsettling portrait of contemporary Sicily, twenty-five years after the assassinations of judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. Through Maresco’s uncompromising gaze and the extraordinary presence of photographer Letizia Battaglia, the documentary combines satire, memory, and social critique.
“Grotesque, tragicomic and deeply cynical, The Mafia Is No Longer What It Used to Be portrays the theme of omertà with disenchanted clarity.” — Movieplayer.it
The film is produced by Ila Palma with Rai Cinema, in collaboration with Daring House. This recognition by the Venice jury is a testament to the film’s artistic and cultural significance.
The award in Venice recognizes not only the artistic strength of Franco Maresco’s work but also the courage to confront complex and uncomfortable themes with originality and depth. The international spotlight on the film confirms its cultural relevance and the urgency of its message.
