Italian multi-hyphenate artist Neri Marcorè revealed plans for an intensive filmmaking period at the Giffoni Film Festival, driven by his intention to take a year-long break in 2027 dedicated solely to tennis. “I need to write something soon because I want to shoot next summer, since in 2027 I plan to stop for a year. I won’t want to do anything but play tennis. So I have to hurry up,” Marcorè told the festival audience (“giffoner”). “I’ll turn 60 and I want a little year to celebrate the milestone. If I make it there alive, because I have a pretty tough year ahead!”
The actor, impersonator, voice artist, TV and radio host, and director clarified this hiatus depends on finding the right project: “But only,” he stressed, “if it’s a story I truly believe in.”
Marcorè reflected extensively on his recent directorial debut with “Zamora,” released in spring 2024. “One reason I debuted as a director was to see how I would handle it. I didn’t know, despite decades on sets for countless films and TV series. Actors often think about what they would do, how they would set up or shoot a scene. So I was curious to move from theory to practice, to throw myself into this new arena and try to either fail or manage. Judging by ‘Zamora”s results, it was an incredibly happy adventure, both humanly and professionally.” He noted the set atmosphere was consistently calm and relaxed, devoid of hysterics, recalling crew members joking, “It can’t be your first film because you never yell… Authority isn’t that; everyone follows their own character.”
Addressing his character, Marcorè confessed to the young audience: “The voice is an expression of our character, but it must always be accompanied by listening. Shyness accompanied me for years, but I learned to transform it into strength. Emotion remains, and that’s right: it’s the respect we owe the audience.” When asked what his eclectic career still lacks, he quipped, “Painting,” before seriously suggesting theatre direction might interest him. “However,” he added, “I’ll keep going like this. I always find stimuli in every sector, so I always find new projects. I don’t necessarily want to do something completely different; it’s also perfectly fine to fill the various open ‘containers’ I already have with new things. I don’t suffer from ‘horror vacui’ [fear of emptiness].”
Pressed by the youths on his dream acting role, Marcorè answered: “A tennis player! That’s my recurring answer.” He elaborated, “I’d like to tell the story of someone who failed and then climbed back up. Because making mistakes is a great life lesson.”
Discussing his recent role as Sherlock Holmes in a musical, Marcorè described the character as universally fascinating due to his observational skills. “I identified with him a lot: I also go at my own pace, without hurry. Plus, I found a fantastic company: working with people you get along with makes everything lighter.”
At Giffoni, Marcorè also premiered the animated series “Anselmo Wannabe.” Produced by Rai Kids for Rai Gulp and RaiPlay, the 26-episode series (7 minutes each) was created and directed by Massimo Ottoni and produced by Ibrido Studio with Aim Creative Studios. Marcorè voices the narrator, “The Maestro,” the series’ only speaking character. “He’s an ironic, non-authoritarian guide accompanying Anselmo’s dreams and choices. I found the idea beautiful because it doesn’t impose answers, but opens questions,” Marcorè explained. “Today, work is often seen as the sole measure of a person’s worth, but that scale isn’t always shareable. This series helps you think for yourself, recognize your own inclinations, and stop chasing imposed models. It does it with irony and sweetness, which is the hardest thing to find.”
His final advice to the young attendees was: “Cultivate many interests, even if they don’t have immediate utility. Reading, memorizing something, studying a language, or playing an instrument: everything enriches you, even if it doesn’t become a job.”
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