Oscar® Qualifying Director Walter Nicoletti, from Matera to the Oscars®

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The award-winning short movie Red Market by Walter Nicoletti will be eligible as Best Live Action Short Film at the 95th Academy Awards®.

The award-winning short film produced by Voce Spettacolo will represent Italy after passing the qualification program in Los Angeles.

“We are incredulous, confused with joy – declares Nicoletti – it’s the most and important goal we could ever reach since we started our artistic career ten years ago, in 2013. A decade of true friendships , indescribable sacrifices, infinite joys but also great pains, disappointments, derisions and many closed doors. However, along this path we have had immense luck, we have been constantly surrounded by wonderful people who have never stopped loving us, never left alone and who, even today, believe in us and in our only passion: Cinema, the seventh art. We hope to go in shortlits, of course, but we are know that the competition is made by highest level considering that there are many other deserving short movie made by by great talents from of all the world. Win the Best! “

International organ trafficking and gambling addiction, these are the themes of the film “Red Market”, a film that for the first time in cinema intends to reflect on these delicate issues through the excellent interpretation of the actors Gabriele Grano, Brunella Lamacchia, Franco Piccinni, Nestor Romero and Donato Cirella.

The film tells the story of Aurelio, a doctor, who, in order to heal his finances and pay off a gambling debt, decides to do business with an international organ trafficking broker. An extremely topical issue that aims to examine an extremely thriving market, considering that an operation related to organ trafficking is quantified every hour. The turnover is estimated between 600 million and 1.2 billion dollars. The kidney is the most requested organ: 70,000 kidneys are transplanted every year, 15,000 come from the illegal so-called Red Market. The demand and supply of organs also occurs online, the first place for organ trafficking passes through social networks.

The dates: the shortlist that will include the fifteen best international shorts selected by the Academy will be announced on 21 December 2022. The nominations will be announced on 24 January 2023. The Oscar Night will be held on 12 March 2023 in Los Angeles.