Oscar-winning director Giuseppe Tornatore’s documentary film Brunello: The Elegant Seer, about fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli, known as Italy’s King of Cashmere, was sold to many territories, expanding the film’s global influence.
After a successful theatrical release in Italy last year, distributor Twenty Nine Palms Entertainment has signed a deal to release the documentary to audiences in Europe, Asia and the Middle East ahead of a July 24 release in the UK, Ireland and North America.
Brunello: The Elegant Seer was also recently screened at the Shanghai Film Festival with Brunello Cucinelli.
“Brunello: The Elegant Visionary” chronicles Cucinelli’s rise from a farmer’s son to creative director and executive chairman of a global luxury lifestyle brand with a market capitalization of more than $7.8 billion. This elegant film stars “Love and Gelato” star Saul Nanni as a young Cucinelli and features music by Oscar-winning composer Nicola Piovani (“Life is Beautiful”).
“The Gracious Visionary” weaves documentary and reenactment elements to tell the story of how his thinking was shaped by his philosophical studies, playing cards, and the generosity of others.
Mr. Cucinelli was born in 1953 in the ancient Umbrian village of Castel Rigone and founded his company in 1978, succeeding by dyeing cashmere in what he called “pop colors” at a time when colored cashmere for women did not exist. The documentary film, shot in Umbria, depicts key moments in his career and shows his passion for Italian craftsmanship and his commitment to a concept he calls “humanitarian capitalism”, where every stitch in the clothes his company makes is made in Italy, mostly in his hometown. Mr. Cucinelli also ensures that factory workers are paid a fair wage and feel like family. He completely renovated the Italian village of Solomeo, where the company’s headquarters are located.
Twenty-Nine Palms Entertainment currently sells titles to Autumn Sun Films (Hong Kong), Aqua Prima (Turkey), Gulf Films Entertainment (Middle East), Investacommerce AG (former Yugoslav territories), Destiny Films (France), Long Ride (Japan), MindJazz Pictures (Germany and Austria), New Cinema (Israel), Noori Pictures (South Korea), and NOS. Through global airline distribution through 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 SL (Spain), and Terry Steiner International.
This docufilm is produced by Brunello Cucinelli SpA and MasiFilm in collaboration with RAI Cinema.
