Red Wins, 77min., Italy
Directed by A.M. Nonnis
Six people play a dark and ruthless gambling game in which every card can either grant significant rewards or decree a death sentence. With each turn, a mysterious red light selects the player, inexorably determining the fate of every participant.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I was driven by passion and stubbornness. I almost had no money to make this project, but I had amazing and talented people around me who made it happen. I was allowed to use our town's beautiful theater for filming, found the actors, arranged a crew, and then I said to myself, “You know what? We can do this.” Red Wins was in my mind, and I needed to bring it to life as soon as possible.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

It took around 3 years. I started writing Red Wins in early 2021 and finished post-production at the end of 2024. By January 2025, I finished the last small corrections, and then Red Wins was ready for the festivals. I’m not gonna lie, it was so hard to let it go. I kept making little corrections for a while!

3. How would you describe your film in two words?

Irregular and oppressive.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Let’s be real, shooting Red Wins was no piece of cake! It was my first movie, the budget was low, and even if everyone who joined me in this adventure strongly believed in the project, I couldn’t hold them up for too long. We had breaks, some even lasting months, between different phases of filming. The post-production part wasn’t any easier. I had to focus on other work as well and find time for Red Wins. I had to keep going through the night sometimes, and it was exhausting. Covering different roles was hard, but no doubt, I put every piece of my soul into Red Wins.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talk about your film in the feedback video?

It was so emotional and moving. People from the other side of the world had watched my movie and were giving me feedback. I can’t even explain what I felt. When you first send your movie to festivals, you just let it go. You get and respond to emails, but everything feels so far away and untouchable. When you see real people talking about your film, woo, that hits differently. I was so glad that I’d shared my work, and it traveled across the world. When I saw Red Wins was voted Best Feature, I was on cloud nine. You can’t imagine how grateful I am.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Since I was little, I’ve been completely in love with cinema. I wanted to become an actor first, but then as I grew up, I realized I’d rather stay behind the camera and create stories. During the last years of high school, I was 100% sure I wanted to make movies. This is just the beginning. I can’t wait to see how my real-life movie continues.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. If you could enter my brain like Inside Out, you’d definitely find a Harry Potter island! I’ve always loved this story, and the magic of Harry Potter sparked that passion inside me that made me fall in love with cinema as well. The music, the atmosphere, everything about this movie is magical and mysterious. It takes me far away and makes me feel like the child I was when I watched it for the first time. I’ve seen it at least 100 times.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I’ve had a great experience with your festival so far. Maybe it would be good to watch the movie remotely with the audience. It would be like being there.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been working on the festival platform site?

The platform is very well done and gives filmmakers the opportunity to share their movie easily.

The interface is good and simple, and I’ve always had the chance to communicate easily with both the Freeway team and individual festivals.

10. What is your favorite meal?

You’d probably think I’m the stereotypical Italian, but there’s nothing better than good, simple granny’s pasta with tomato sauce!

11. What’s next for you? A new film?

There’s a lot going on this year. I’ll be working on a documentary, a TV show pilot, and a music video. I can’t wait to start a new project, but I don’t know what my next big move will be yet. For now, it’s Red Wins time!