cinematography
Damjan Radovanović
editing
Ian Degrassi
music
Michele Braga
sound
Filip Popadić
production design
Dragana Baćović
costumes
Maria Letizia Della Felice

cast
Matilda De Angelis (Greta)
Babak Karimi (Nazar)
Ivar Wafaei (Jalil)
Giovanni Toscano (Edoardo)

productions
Nightswim
Wildside
a Fremantle company
co-productions
This and That Productions
ANTITALENT
producers
Ines Vasiljević
Stefano Sardo
Sonia Rovai
Ludovica Damiani
co-producers
Snežana van Houwelingen
Katarina Prpic
Danijel Pek

associated productions
M74
Nieminen Film
associated producers
Monica Galantucci
Andrea Italia
Matilda De Angelis
with the support of
Lazio Innova – Lazio Cinema International
Film Center Serbia

world sales
m-appeal
sales@m-appeal.com
Italian distribution
Fandango Distribuzione
francesca.esposito@fandango.it
Italian press office
Arianna Monteverdi
arianna.monteverdi@gmail.com

When music is outlawed in Afghanistan, the orchestra conductor Nazar and his tuba-playing son Jalil are forced to leave everything behind. Their journey along the Balkan route toward Italy is uncertain, yet it carries the hope of finding a place where they can play again. Along the way, they meet Greta, an Italian doctor. Together, the three navigate choices that will change all of their lives.

2026 Balcanica
2025 A Minute History (doc)
2024 La confessione (short)
2019 Ape Regina (short)
2017 Moby Dick (short)

“My grandmother fought for our freedom in the 1940s. I grew up with her, and her stories of freedom denied have always fueled my imagination. In part, Balcanica grew out of this feeling of anger at those who practice interruption, denial, coercion, and censorship. Although I was very young when music was outlawed in Afghanistan, the news sowed its seeds in me for years, until Andrea Brusa and I decided to tell the story of the journey of Nazar and Jalil – Afghans, father and son, both musicians – bringing to the tale a western gaze, in the person of Greta, a character who expresses our point of view. The human body is an essential component of Balcanica, the sole vehicle of the journey itself. It walks; it holds out against the cold, the heat, and fear. Crossing borders, it becomes a repository of the violence, abuse, and rejection endured.” (Nicola Sorcinelli)

Nicola Sorcinelli is an Italian director. He began his career as BTS filmmaker and assistant director to leading filmmakers while shooting short films selected and awarded at major international festivals, including Academy Awards-qualifying selections. His short Moby Dick won the Nastro d’Argento award. In 2024, he directed the short Ape Regina, produced in collaboration with the NGO Emergency. He later directed La confessione, shortlisted in 2025 for both the David di Donatello and the Nastri d’Argento Awards. He also directed several episodes of the series Briganti and In Utero.