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Agon Olympic Drama Comes to New York With MUBI Festival Screenings
- TalkTeaV
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Yile Yara Vianello stars as Giovanna Falconetti in Agon. Image courtesy of Giulio Bertelli / MUBI
A new Italian sports drama is heading to New York screens this spring before reaching a wider audience through MUBI. Agon, written and directed by Giulio Bertelli, will screen at the 2025 New Directors/New Films series with showings scheduled at the Walter Reade Theater and the Museum of Modern Art.
The film, which won the FIPRESCI Award for Best First Feature at the 2025 Venice Film Festival’s International Critics’ Week, follows three athletes preparing for a fictional Olympic competition known as the Ludoj 2024 Games.
The first New York screening is set for March 19 at 1:30 p.m. at the Walter Reade Theater at 165 W. 65th St. Two official screenings will follow on April 12 at 4:00 p.m. at the Museum of Modern Art’s Titus Theater 2 and on April 14 at 8:45 p.m. back at the Walter Reade Theater. Both April screenings will include a question and answer session with Bertelli.
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Sofija Zobina stars as shooter Alex Sokolov in Agon. Image courtesy of Giulio Bertelli / MUBI
The film centers on three competitors whose lives intersect during the build up to the games. Their events include rifle shooting, fencing, and judo, each demanding intense preparation and focus. The athletes face not only the pressure of competition but also the political, social, and physical forces that shape elite sports.
The cast includes Yile Yara Vianello (Tranquility Base) as Giovanna Falconetti, Olympic judo champion Alice Bellandi as herself, Sofija Zobina (La Chimera) as Alex Sokolov, Michela Cescon (Blanca) as Dola, Francesco Acquaroli (Turn of the Tide) as Maestro, and Chiara Caselli (Nina Roza) as Presidente Delegazione.
Bertelli’s story draws inspiration from historical figures such as Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, and Russian cavalry officer Nadezhda Durova. Their legacies echo through the film’s portrayal of women competing in sports that once began as forms of military training. Over time, those practices evolved into modern professional competition and global entertainment.
Olympic gold medalist Alice Bellandi appears as herself in Agon. Image courtesy of Giulio Bertelli / MUBI
The director was born in Milan in 1990 and studied architecture at the Architectural Association in London. Alongside filmmaking, Bertelli has worked as a professional offshore sailor since 2012, contributing to performance sailboat design. His background in architecture and design also influences his approach to storytelling and visual structure.
Agon originally premiered in Italy on August 29, 2025, where it began drawing attention on the international festival circuit. The film also received the Luciano Sovena Award during International Critics’ Week.
MUBI, the streaming service and distributor behind the release, is known for curating global cinema and supporting emerging filmmakers. The platform plans to bring Agon to wider audiences following its festival and theatrical screenings.
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