Nominated For Best European Comedy: Pif!

Nominated for Best European Comedy – LA MAFIA UCCIDE SOLO D’ESTATE, THE MAFIA ONLY KILLS IN THE SUMMER!

Pierfrancesco “Pif” Diliberto, Italian TVs answer to Jon Stewart has scored a EFA nomination with his first movie, a clever child’s eye view of what it was like for normal people living under the mafia’s thumb in 1980s and 90s Palermo. Diliberto directed, starred in, and cowrote this uniquely entertaining take on a very serious theme, the mafia’s killing spree that resulted in the deaths of judges, politicians, and police officers and reached fever pitch with the famous “Maxi-Trial”.

Don't look so sad, PIF, you'll probably win Best New Director — Pif with Cristiana Capotondi

The film’s protagonist, young Arturo, hears the adults talking and knows that something’s going on, but he’s decided that Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti’s got it covered and there’s nothing to worry about. After all, none of the adults seem particularly concerned and “it’s winter, and the Mafia only kills people in the summer”. If this is just the story that adults tell their children to ease their fears, they seem to (at least want to) believe it too, along with other fantasies about the Mafia and Prime Minister Andreotti. It’s easier and safer to believe that danger is Naples’ problem, not theirs.

This movie is bittersweet, powerful, and funny, all at once, a thoroughly enjoyable film worthy of the award. The last few minutes are some of my favorites in a movie.

Director: Pierfrancesco Diliberto
Screenwriter: Michele Astori, Pierfrancesco Diliberto, Marco Martani
Producer: Mario Gianani, Lorenzo Mieli