Oscar-winning director Giuseppe Tornatore‘s docufilm “Brunello: The Gracious Visionary” — about Brunello Cucinelli, the fashion designer known as Italy’s “King of Cashmere” — has been sold to a slew of territories, expanding the film’s global footprint.
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Sales company Twenty-Nine Palms Entertainment has clinched deals that will now see the docufilm released to audiences across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, following its successful theatrical outing in Italy last year and ahead of upcoming releases in the U.K., Ireland and North America on July 24th.
“Brunello: The Gracious Visionary” also recently screened at the Shanghai Film Festival with Brunello Cucinelli in tow.
“Brunello: The Gracious Visionary” chronicles Cucinelli’s rise from being a farmer’s son to becoming the creative director and executive chairman of a global luxury lifestyle brand with a market capitalization of more than $7.8 billion. The elegant film stars “Love & Gelato” breakout Saul Nanni as a younger version of Cucinelli and features a score by Oscar-winning composer Nicola Piovani (“Life Is Beautiful”).
“The Gracious Visionary” interweaves documentary and reenacted components to tell the story of how his mindset was shaped by learning philosophy, playing cards and the generosity of others.
Cucinelli, who was born in the ancient Umbrian hamlet of Castel Rigone in 1953, founded his company in 1978 and became successful by dyeing cashmere in “pop colors” at a time when, as he has put it, there was no colored cashmere for women. The docufilm, which was shot in Umbria, depicts key moments in his career, showcasing his passion for Italian craftsmanship and commitment to a concept he calls “humanistic capitalism,” under which every stitch of clothing his company creates is made in Italy and mostly in the area where he comes from. Cucinelli also makes sure his factory workers are paid fair wages and feel like family. He has completely renovated the Italian village of Solomeo that is home to his headquarters.
Twenty-Nine Palms Entertainment has now sold the title to: Autumn Sun Films (Hong Kong), Aqua Prima (Turkey), Gulf Films Entertainment (Middle East), Investacommerce AG (the former Yugoslav territories), Destiny Films (France), Long Ride (Japan), MindJazz Pictures (Germany and Austria), New Cinema (Israel), Noori Pictures (South Korea), NOS Lusomundo Audiovisual (Portugal), NumeroUS Movie (China), Palace Entertainment (Australia and New Zealand), PVR Inox Pictures (India), Shaw Renters (Singapore), Swallow Wings Films (Taiwan), Vertice Cine S.L. (Spain), as well as through global airline distribution via Terry Steiner International.
The docufilm is produced by Brunello Cucinelli S.p.A. and MasiFilm in collaboration with RAI Cinema.
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