The latest film from Italian maestro Gabriele Salvatores (Mediterraneo) is a taut thriller set in the sun-drenched southern Italian countryside. It is 1978 and 10-year-old Michele lives a carefree life in a small town with his mother and younger sister, Maria. He spends his days running through seemingly never-ending golden wheat fields with his friends, exploring the terrain, making each day an adventure. After a day of fun at an abandoned farmhouse with his pals, Michele returns alone later in the afternoon and stumbles upon a sinister scene. Unable to fully comprehend the enormity of his discovery he flees to the safety of his home, where his absentee father has returned, bringing a number of associates with him. Keeping his discovery a secret, Michele's idyllic summer takes a unexpected turn as his discovery threatens to shatter the calm.

Highlighted by stunning cinematography and slow-building tension, I'm Not Scared is an atmospheric, nail-biting exploration of the loss of childhood innocence.

A nerve-jangling thriller' Salvatores delivers a fierce, frightening and deeply moving study of childhood.' -Rolling Stone

D Gabriele Salvatores P Maurizio Totti S Niccolo Ammaniti, Francesca Marciano WS Miramax Films L Italian w/English subtitles TD 35mm/Col/2003/101mins

Gabriele Salvatores was born in Naples, Italy in 1950. Films include: Sud (1994), Nirvana (1997), Teeth (MIFF 2001), Amnésia (2002).

With support from The Italian Institute of Culture, Melbourne