Beta Film and Mediawan Rights have partnered to handle the international distribution of the drama series, directed by multi-award-winning filmmaker Marco Bellocchio (The Traitor, Exterior Night, Kidnapped). The six-hour series will have its world premiere today at the Venice International Film Festival, in the Out of Competition section, as one of the few television series selected for this year’s program. From the producers of My Brilliant Friend and The Young Pope, the show will also be featured in the Primetime section of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Portobello is produced by Our Films (a Mediawan company) and Kavac Film, in co-production with ARTE France and in collaboration with Rai Fiction and The Apartment Pictures (part of the Fremantle group). Producers include Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani for Our Films, and Simone Gattoni for Kavac Film. The drama will be the first HBO Original Italian production to premiere on HBO Max, debuting in 2026.
In 1982, Enzo Tortora is at the peak of his career, hosting the legendary TV show Portobello and attracting 28 million viewers. Suddenly, he becomes the unexpected target of an anti-Mafia investigation. Two years earlier, the crime syndicate Nuova Camorra had suffered a decisive blow. Now, Giovanni Pandico, a leading mobster and regular Portobello viewer, decides to cooperate with authorities. During questioning, Pandico names Tortora as an accomplice. On June 17, 1983, the Carabinieri knock on the door of Tortora’s hotel room. He believes it must be a mistake—but it marks the beginning of a relentless ordeal that will drag him from stardom into the depths of despair.
The cast is led by Fabrizio Gifuni (My Brilliant Friend) as Enzo Tortora, alongside Lino Musella (Hand of God), Romana Maggiora Vergano (La Storia), Barbora Bobulova (Sicilian Letters), Carlotta Gamba (Dostoevskij), Alessandro Preziosi (Leopardi. The Poet of the Infinite), Fausto Russo Alesi (Kidnapped, Exterior Night), and Salvatore D’Onofrio (Il Divo). The script is written by Marco Bellocchio, Stefano Bises (Gomorrah), Giordana Mari (My Love), and Peppe Fiore (The King).
Oliver Bachert, Chief Distribution Officer at Beta Film, said:“We are proud to join such a strong project with Mediawan on distribution and Our Films and Kavac Film on production. Portobello shines a light on one of Italy’s most controversial miscarriages of justice. With its powerful storytelling around Enzo Tortora’s tragic case, we are confident it will have a memorable premiere in Venice and captivate audiences worldwide. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Marco Bellocchio’s Kavac Film, and believe Portobello will follow the success of Beta’s standout series such as Gomorrah, Rocco Schiavone, and The Sea Beyond.”
Valérie Vleeschouwer, CEO of Mediawan Rights, added:“We are proud to support a talent like Marco Bellocchio, one of Italy’s most acclaimed filmmakers. Partnering with Beta Film on the international distribution of this prestigious program reflects our commitment to championing the world’s best talent and IP.”
