Private Project

Ritorno

A young woman who flees from family tradition embarks on a journey to her Italian roots that brings her back home.

  • Marialejandra Martin
    Director
  • Natasha Isabela Martínez
    Writer
  • Marialejandra Martin
    Writer
  • Marialejandra Martin
    Producer
  • Stephanie Cardone
    Producer
  • Carlos Bolívar
    Producer
  • Gioia Lombardini
    Key Cast
    "Nonna"
  • Stephanie Cardone
    Key Cast
    "Gioia"
  • Natasha Martínez
    Key Cast
    "Sofia"
  • Mario Cardone
    Key Cast
    "Nonno"
  • Giuliano Cardone
    Key Cast
    "Young Nonno"
  • Alicia Plaza
    Key Cast
    "Angelina"
  • Liliana Meléndez
    Key Cast
    "Immacolata"
  • Gioia Arismendi
    Key Cast
    "Silvana"
  • Yasmin Fulop
    Key Cast
    "Franca"
  • Tania Sarabia
    Key Cast
    "Tecla"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Ritorno
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Family, Women
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 39 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 9, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    23,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Venezuela
  • Country of Filming:
    Venezuela
  • Language:
    Italian, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 2K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Dubai International Film Festival
    Dubai
    United Arab Emirates
    January 9, 2024
    Official Selection
  • 17° "Manuel Trujillo Duran" National & Int. Short Film Festival FMTD
    Maracaibo
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    May 4, 2024
    Mención Especial del Jurado en Dirección a Marialejandra Martin
  • 20° Festival del Cine Venezolano
    Isla de Margarita
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    June 18, 2024
    Mejor Actriz Gioia Lombardini | Mejor Casting Marialejandra Martin
  • 7° Beyond Earth Film Festival
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    June 23, 2024
    Official Selection
  • 14° Encuentro Para Cinéfagos (Festival de CineArte en la Frontera)
    San Cristóbal
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    September 5, 2024
    Official Selection
  • 12° Festival ELCO 2024 - Entre Cortos y Largos de Oriente
    Puerto La Cruz, Lechería
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    September 20, 2024
    Mejor Cortometraje Ficción
  • 17° Belize International Film Festival
    Belize City
    Belize
    November 9, 2024
    Official Selection
  • 8° Cinema Venezuela
    Miami
    United States
    November 23, 2024
    Selected to be screened as part of the Shorts Showcase
  • 4° Festival de Cine Dodecá

    Uruguay
    November 23, 2024
    Official Selection
  • 18° Festival de Cine Barquisimeto
    Barquisimeto
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    December 4, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Kuala Lumpur International Film Academy Awards
    Kuala Lumpur
    Malaysia
    October 18, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Premio Municipal de Cine de Chacao 2025
    Caracas
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    January 28, 2025
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Marialejandra Martin

Marialejandra began working in cinema starring in the Venezuelan feature film "Ifigenia" (Dir. Iván Feo, 1986); since then, she works on film, theater and television.

In 1994, she founded La Caja Teatro and started as a producer, with a play in co production with the Peruvian actor and director Alberto Isola, with seasons in Caracas and Lima.

In 1998, she moved to NYC to study at the Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute with George Loros, Robert Castle, Pennie DuPont, Geoffrey Horne, Michael Margotta, etc.

In 2001 she returned to Venezuela to produce and direct plays, workshops and experimental projects and as an associate producer in independent film projects, including the feature film "Sólo Para Tus Ojos" by Carlos Porte.

Already an established actress, she began to train in different areas of cinema with Venezuelan film professionals, such as Thaelman Urgelles, Carmen La Roche, Luisa de la Ville and Laura Goldberg.

In 2018 she entered the National Film School of Venezuela (ENC) and studied Film directing and Cinematography with Rafael Marziano, Luis Alberto Lamata, etc.

In 2019 she wrote, produced and directed her first short film "Qué hago yo aquí" (2019) selected in more than 20 international film festivals, in the USA, India, UK, Romania, France, Australia, Nepal, Italy, Colombia and Venezuela, and to represent her country in the Spanish-American Federation of Film Academies showcase FIACINE "Women in Short".

Her second short film "Ritorno" was entirely shot with funds from an Indiegogo campaign that engaged more than 80 backers.

Marialejandra is working on her first feature film project "ZUASS, se fue la luz", to be shot in Barquisimeto city, Venezuela.

RNC # 6147 – CNAC, Venezuela

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Director Statement

The women of the family share eternal feminine tasks in a silent community. Meanwhile, the grandmother worries about one of them who, breaking the rules, fled to the land of her ancestors when she realized that she would never have the opportunity to be part of the family business, traditionally run by men. The structural differences between our grandparents' generation and ours, the expectations and dreams of finding a place where we can express ourselves freely, develop our talents and see the fruits of our efforts flourish, is an issue of rights. In the end, that place turns out to be the same place we come from, the home to which we belong.