| Native Name: | |
| Director: | Fabio Grassadonia Antonio Piazza |
| Cinematography: | Luca Bigazzi |
| Editing: | Paola Freddi |
| Music: | Colapesce |
| Runtime: | 122 minutes |
| Language: | Italian, Sicilian |
Sicilian Letters (scn|'''Iddu'''|lit=He) is a 2024 crime drama film written and directed by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza. The film stars Elio Germano as Sicilian Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro and Toni Servillo as Catello, an operative in the Italian secret service.[1]
The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it will be competing for the Golden Lion.[2]
In the early 2000s, the embattled politician Catello seeks to revive his career by helping the Secret Service track down the last known Cosa Nostra boss, Matteo Messina Denaro, whom Catello has known his entire life. The two begin corresponding via letters in a game of cat and mouse.[3]
Initially, the film had the working title Lettere a Catello ("Letters to Catello"), a title based on the book about Messina Denaro Lettere a Svetonio.[4] Grassadonia and Piazza worked for two years on the screenplay. The film was shot in the summer of 2023 between Trapani, Sciacca, Salemi and Selinunte.
In July 2024, Sicilian Letters was announced as a main competition entry for that year's Venice Film Festival.