Italian cinema just earned an important recognition in Hollywood. ‘Mutrion’, a 20-minute short film by 27-year-old Venetian Director Marco Cavazzin, received a Special Jury Mention for its “unique expressive vision” at the 40th edition of the AFI Fest.

Following his Best Director Award at the Locarno Film Festival in August, the recognition marks another milestone for Cavazzin, the only Italian and the youngest filmmaker among the 11 directors competing in the category at Los Angeles’s most prestigious cinematic showcases.

“It’s an incredible feeling to be here presenting something I made myself!” Cavazzin said in Los Angeles. “Locarno was already a surprise: we had no idea where it would lead or which other festivals might select us. Making it to Hollywood and going home with such a meaningful recognition is a dream.”

Set in the Venetian lagoon, among waterways, boats and fishing huts hidden among the trees, ‘Mutrion’ is a coming-of-age story with a touch of fantasy.

Marco returns home after years away, recovering from a painful breakup. He reconnects with an old friend and a community shaped by rituals and superstitions, where everyone still calls him by his childhood nickname, Mutrion, 'grumps'.

“The idea came when I explored the northern Venetian lagoon with my cameraman Oscar. It’s a part of Venice that few tourists ever see, a world away from the grand palaces and postcard images the city is famous for,” Cavazzin explained.

“We finished the screenplay in late 2023 but only managed to shoot two years later. In Italy, it’s very difficult to make your debut! There are few production companies brave enough to take risks. Luckily, Etimo loved the project immediately.”

Starring Manfredi Marini and Giulio Maroncelli, ‘Mutrion’ was co-written with Alessandro Padovani and produced by the independent Venetian company Etimo, supported by the Veneto Film Commission and distributed by Cattive Produzioni.

Cavazzin, born in 1999, is now preparing another short film and developing his first feature screenplay.