Prime Video increases investment in Italian Originals
January 23, 2020
By Nik Roseveare
Amazon has announced three new Italian Amazon Original shows at its Prime Video Presents Italy showcase event, hosted at Hotel de la Ville in Rome by Head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke, Head of International Originals, James Farrell, Director of European Amazon Originals Georgia Brown and Head of Unscripted Originals series in Italy, Nicole Morganti.
The event featured appearances from renowned Italian creators and talent including Aurelio & Luigi De Laurentiis, Carlo Verdone, Francesco Lauber, Fabrizio Ievolella, Carlo Cracco, Andrea Di Stefano, Lorenzo Mieli and Dante Sollazzo.
“Here in Italy we’re focused on making great Original shows specifically for our local Prime members and we’re so excited to announce these three new Italian Amazon Original productions,” said Brown. “We know that viewers want to see unique, authentic and entertaining stories that they truly connect with, and we’re committed to producing the widest variety of quality Italian programming across drama, reality, comedy, lifestyle and music. There isn’t a genre or topic we aren’t considering right now. Production companies and creatives who are focused on on making high-quality, Italian shows that reflects the local audience will know that these shows can and will travel internationally.”
“We have lots of more exciting ideas in development with Italian producers, writers, directors and acting talent,” added Brown. “We are working on premium TV productions in Italy and there will be plenty more in the coming months as we continue our commitment to invest in production in Italy.”
The three new Amazon Original series announced are:
Vita da Carlo, a comedy TV series that sees Verdone, one of the most popular Italian actors and directors, star as a fictionalised version of himself alongside cameos from some of Italy’s biggest stars. Set in Rome, produced by Aurelio and Luigi De Laurentiis with their company Filmauro, this 10-episode show will start production in 2020.
Ferro, an intense documentary about Tiziano Ferro, one of the most famous contemporary Italian musicians. Filled with never–before-seen footage of Tiziano while preparing and rehearsing for his new concert tour, the documentary will give audience a private and unique look at his life, passions, work and love. Produced by Banijay, Ferro will launch exclusively on Prime Video in June 2020.
Dinner Club, an unscripted cooking travelogue sees Michelin starred chef and TV personality Carlo Cracco and six famous Italian actors and comedians travel around the world to Japan, Vietnam, France, Spain, Peru and Mexico to discover exotic cuisine and learn from the world’s best chefs, in order to create a perfect dinner for guests appearing on the show. Dinner Club is produced by Banijay and will launch exclusively for Prime members in 2020.
The titles join the previously announced Bang Bang Baby – a crime drama set in Milan in the late eighties, which starts shooting in 2020 – and Celebrity Hunted – Caccia all’uomo, the first Italian Amazon Original Unscripted show which launches on March 13th.