TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, the leading brand in the world of entertainment, and Mondadori Academy, the Mondadori Group’s online learning platform, are launching a new educational project dedicated to cinema and the arts that shape it.

From screenwriting to acting, directing, editing and production, the programme offers participants the opportunity to discover the mechanisms behind the world of filmmaking and explore how stories and characters capable of captivating millions of viewers around the world come to life, also thanks to the involvement of well-known industry figures.

A TRAINING PROGRAMME DEDICATED TO THE WORLD OF CINEMA

The training programme created by TV Sorrisi e Canzoni and Mondadori Academy for the world of cinema is structured around five on-demand courses, consisting of video lessons that can be accessed at any time. Its aim is to provide practical tools for exploring the many dimensions of cinematic language.

Through a practical and accessible approach, the programme offers concrete examples and tools to reveal the backstage of an industry that is both widely loved and still largely unfamiliar to the general public.

This unique educational offering is divided into five courses, each lasting between 90 and 120 minutes:

• Course 1 – “Writing a Film: From the First Idea to the Screenplay”, with screenwriter Doriana Leondeff;
• Course 2 – “Learning to Act: From Technique to Performance”, with actress Ivana Lotito;
• Course 3 – “Building a Film: From Vision to Production”, with film director Valerio Vestoso;
• Course 4 – “Editing a Film: From Footage to Final Cut”, with film editor Giogiò Franchini;
• Course 5 – “Producing a Film: From Concept to Set and Market”, with film producer Marco Belardi.

THE COURSE LEADERS AND THE TOPICS COVERED

This project has been made possible through collaboration with five established professionals from the film industry, who bring their extensive experience to the development of the course content.

Doriana Leondeff – “Writing a Film: From the First Idea to the Screenplay”

Doriana Leondeff, who has just won the David di Donatello Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (2006) for the film Le assaggiatrici, is a screenwriter who, over the course of nearly forty years, has crafted stories that feel natural and deeply rooted in real life. She has written for both cinema and television, won numerous awards, mentored emerging writers and has been a member of the David di Donatello jury since 2001. Among the many directors and creatives she has collaborated with are: Silvio Soldini, Carlo Mazzacurati, Cristina Comencini, Francesca Archibugi and Michele Placido.

Doriana Leondeff will take participants behind the scenes of her creative process, exploring not only three-act structures, but also how characters are “heard” before they are even given a voice. Using a practical and creative approach, the course guides participants through the tools, techniques and processes that transform an intuition into a cinematic story. She will also discuss what happens when an idea collides with the needs of direction or the constraints of editing, and how to preserve the soul of a story within an industry that is, in every respect, a business.

Ivana Lotito – “Learning to Act: From Technique to Performance”

Ivana Lotito is a renowned Italian actress who rose to prominence in 2009 with the box-office comedy Cado dalle nubi by Gennaro Nunziante, alongside Checco Zalone. At the same time, she built a strong television career, appearing in numerous drama series and consolidating her versatility as a performer. One of the defining roles of her career has been her portrayal of Azzurra Avitabile in Gomorra – The Series, beginning in 2016.

In the course, Ivana Lotito offers an in-depth overview of the craft of screen acting, analysing the artistic and technical skills required to build a credible performance.

Valerio Vestoso – “Building a Film: From Vision to Production”

Valerio Vestoso is an acclaimed film director who first entered the world of short films with Tacco 12, a mockumentary centred on the obsession with group dancing. In 2016, he won the Solinas Prize for the screenplay of the series Flash and went on to direct numerous branded content projects and television commercials. His works include the short Ratzinger vuole tornare, the documentary Essere Gigione, the short film Le Buone Maniere and the series Vita da Carlo. He is also the author of the television programme Una pezza di Lundini.

Drawing on his recognised experience in the field, Vestoso offers a structured overview of the creative and production process behind the making of a film.

Giogiò Franchini – “Editing a Film: From Footage to Final Cut”

Giogiò Franchini is a well-known film editor and was the person who introduced digital post-production to Campania: Racconti di Vittoria was the first film edited in Naples using the Avid Film Composer system. Over the years, he has collaborated with directors including Paolo Sorrentino, Jonathan Demme, Antonio Capuano, Andrea Molaioli, Sergio Rubini, Giovanni Veronesi, Valeria Golino and Riccardo Milani. Alongside his professional career, Franchini has long been dedicated to teaching and has delivered lessons, workshops and seminars at institutions including the Holden School in Turin, the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, the University of Naples Federico II and Sapienza University of Rome.

Giogiò Franchini represents that crucial moment when cinema, from a collection of scattered fragments, finally becomes a complete work. Combining theoretical reflection with practical experience, the course explores editing as a decisive stage in cinematic storytelling. From the human dimension of the editor’s work to the practical dynamics of the editing room, it examines the fundamental role of editing in shaping audiovisual narratives.

Marco Belardi – “Producing a Film: From Concept to Set and Market”

Marco Belardi is one of the most highly regarded film producers in Italy. He founded Lotus Production, the company through which he achieved major success and established the partnership that made him widely known: his collaboration with director Paolo Genovese. Their most successful film, Perfetti Sconosciuti (2016), achieved record-breaking box-office results, grossing more than €16 million and becoming the most remade Italian film in the history of world cinema. Over the years, Belardi has also worked with directors such as Paolo Virzì and Gabriele Muccino, collecting David di Donatello Awards, Nastri d’Argento, Golden Globes and Ciak d’Oro awards. Today, he leads Greenboo Production, his new production company, with several film and television projects currently in development.

In the course, Marco Belardi examines the producer’s role as a creative engine. From the initial concept through to distribution, the programme explores the production, creative and economic dynamics of the audiovisual industry, while also providing practical tools for navigating the sector.

The courses are available at www.mondadoriacademy.it.

The cinema-related courses, together with upcoming music-focused courses soon to be launched on Mondadori Academy, will also feature as part of Il Festival dello Spettacolo, the event powered by TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, which will return for its second edition on 6, 7 and 8 November 2026 at Superstudio Più in Via Tortona, Milan. Within the new SORRISI LAB area, visitors will be able to take part in masterclasses and workshops led by leading figures from the film and music industries. These sessions will provide an introductory overview of the themes explored in the online courses, creating a direct bridge between live experience and digital learning.

TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, is a Mondadori Group brand and the go-to source for television and entertainment enthusiasts, reaching 2.6 million readers each month (source: Audipress 2025/I), 4.2 million website users (source: Audiweb Jan–Oct 2025) and 1.15 million fans (source: social insights IG, FB, TikTok, X, YouTube) through a fully integrated multichannel ecosystem spanning magazine, website, social media, events and related products.

Mondadori Academy is the Mondadori Group’s online learning platform which, through the contribution of the Group’s brands, offers innovative, accessible and high-quality training programmes across a wide range of fields, from artificial intelligence and design to manga and entertainment.