Cannes Xpress 2024: Francesca Archibugi to direct UK-Italy co-production The Italian Chapel

Following the success of her feminist fascist-era saga La Storia in 2023, director Francesca Archibugi will go behind camera for the UK-Italian joint production The Italian Chapel. His La Storia is an eight-episode saga based on late novelist Elsa Morante's bestseller.

The film is set in Scotland's Orkney Islands during the World War II. The story unfolds in the backdrop of a clash between Orkney community and the prisoners of war jailed there. A romance blooms between an Italian prisoner and a Scottish native.

Announcement of The Italian Chapel came in the Cannes 2024. The film is developed by Working Title Films and the British Film Institute (BFI), co-produced by UK's Blue Horizon Production by Andrew Bendel and Italy's Greenboo Production by Marco Belardi. Greenboo has produced hits like Perfect Strangers, There Is No Place Like Home, and Like Crazy.

Archibugi's recent feature The Hummingbird, starring Pierfrancesco Favino and Berenice Bejo, was launched in 2023 at Toronto.

She will direct The Italian Chapel based on the script written by Twist writer John Wrathall.