by InTrieste
The picturesque streets and shores of Trieste are buzzing with activity as the cameras roll on A Year of School, the highly anticipated second feature by Italian director Laura Samani. The film, which began production today, is produced by Nadia Trevisan and Alberto Fasulo for Nefertiti Film in collaboration with Rai Cinema, and co-produced by Thomas Lambert of Tomsa Films alongside ARTE Cinema France. Distribution rights for Italy have been secured by Lucky Red.
Samani’s film has drawn significant attention, bolstered by backing from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Film Commission – PromoTurismoFVG, Eurimages, and several other European institutions, including Creative Europe Media. The movie is poised to capture the haunting beauty of Trieste, which, according to the filmmakers, will serve as more than just a backdrop but as a character in its own right.
A Bold New Work
Un Anno di Scuola (A Year of School) is an adaptation of the 20th-century Italian author Giani Stuparich’s novel of the same name. However, Samani’s interpretation modernizes the story, setting it in 2007 in an all-boys technical school in Trieste. It focuses on three friends—Antero, Pasini, and Mitis—whose tight-knit bond is disrupted by the arrival of Fred, an adventurous Swedish girl. Fred’s exuberant and fearless demeanor quickly becomes a focal point of the group’s desire, and her presence upends the delicate dynamics between the friends.
The film is a coming-of-age tale, blending youthful desire and friendship with deeper reflections on identity and change. The city of Trieste itself, known for its rich literary history and coastal beauty, will play a central role in shaping the mood and narrative of the story, as the director emphasizes.
“Trieste will not merely be a backdrop, but an emotional counterpoint to the characters’ lives,” said Samani in a recent interview.
On Set in Trieste
Production is scheduled to take place over six weeks in various iconic locations around Trieste. Filming kicked off at the Topolini beach area in Barcola today. Other planned locations include the historic Stabilimento Balneare Ausonia, the beloved Trattoria La Grotta, and the neighboring town of Muggia.
The centerpiece of the production will be the I.S.I.S. Nautico “Tomaso di Savoia Duca di Genova–L. Galvani,” a nautical institute that will also involve local students in the filmmaking process through work-study programs (PCTO), an initiative aimed at fostering local talent.
A Cast of Fresh Faces
Samani has cast a group of fresh-faced newcomers in the film’s leading roles. Stella Wendick, Giacomo Covi, Pietro Giustolisi, and Samuel Volturno will make their feature film debuts in A Year of School, lending an air of authenticity and raw energy to the production. The casting of unknowns is a bold move, but it fits seamlessly into Samani’s filmmaking ethos, which often emphasizes realism and emotional truth.
A rising star in the European film world, Laura Samani has already made waves with her debut feature, Small Body, and was recently chosen as one of six directors for the prestigious Cannes Festival Résidence program, where she worked on this very project.
With the full support of prominent European film institutions and the unique charm of Trieste as a central narrative force, A Year of School is shaping up to be one of the standout European films of 2025.
