Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia

AUSTRIAN PREMIERE

Realised in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Friuli earthquake and narrated by the unmistakable voice of Bruno Pizzul, “Orcolat” is a collective story that weaves together the memory, identity, and rebirth of the Friuli region. Through the testimonies of artists, athletes, writers, and scholars—including Dino Zoff, Fabio Capello, Manuela Di Centa, Paolo Rumiz, Davide Toffolo, Tullio Avoledo, and many others—the film presents an emotional, collective mosaic of a historical moment that left an indelible mark on the land and its people.

Free from rhetoric, “Orcolat” explores not only the strength and solidarity shown during the reconstruction, but also its contradictions and the darker aspects of the initial relief efforts. Director Federico Savonitto’s perspective ultimately expands to an international dimension, speaking not only to those who lived through these events but to audiences of all ages.

STATEMENT BY DIRECTOR FEDERICO SAVONITTO:
“For me, and also for what the film says about it, the Orcolat is a representation created to give form to the inexplicable – a monster that we can project onto others or even onto ourselves. I sincerely hope that this film serves as an invitation to listen – to others as well.”

WORLD PREMIERE: 20th Pordenone Docs Fest 2026

DIRECTOR’S BIO:
Federico Savonitto, born in Udine in 1981, is based between Rome, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Sicily. After graduating in Trieste with an experimental thesis on Wim Wenders, he attended the Sicilian campus of the “Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia” from 2009 to 2012. Whilst at the school, he made several documentaries, including “La città sconosciuta” (2013) and “La fine che non ho fatto” (2011), the latter co-directed with Ruben Monterosso. After directing a commercial for the Ministry of the Environment and working with director Franco Maresco as an assistant editor, in 2014 he returned to focusing on his own film projects as a filmmaker, producing with his Takaità Film music videos, commercials and short films, often in collaboration with Ruben Monterosso. In 2019, he co-directed the documentary “In un futuro aprile – Il giovane Pasolini” with Francesco Costabile. In 2025, Ewa – The Last Lesson, co-directed with Andrea Mura, was selected for Biografilm Festival and several international festivals.