The Village of Dreams

Sebastiano and Filippo, classmates in high school, develop feelings for each other that go beyond friendship. Sebastiano feels their relationship in a romantic way, filtered by scenes of homosexuality in classical literature and Greco-Roman art. Filippo has much more physical impulses, willing to accelerate toward more erotic and sexual outcomes. When Filippo's brother discovers their relationship, Filippo reacts by rejecting Sebastiano and starting a relationship with a girl, pretending that his homosexuality is an adolescent whim that will fade with adulthood. Sebastiano confronts Filippo to understand his behavior, but Filippo reacts violently, beating Sebastiano and accusing him of trying to trap him in his perverse desires.
Many years later, Filippo and Sebastiano meet again during a holiday in the mountains. Sebastiano is going through a difficult time with his partner: he cheated on him on a night of over-indulgence and drinking, and he must find the strength to overcome the heart's small ambushes with the deep feelings developed over a decade-long relationship. Filippo is married and has a son, but the marriage is kept alive by his wife's stubbornness, because she is willing to accept Filippo's affairs with other men to preserve the integrity of the family and protect her son.
While Filippo tries to get from Sebastiano what he denied himself as a young man, Sebastiano gets to know the other people who have entered Filippo's life: his wife and a boy who is discovering his homosexuality. Sebastiano understands that our feelings, and the way we cope with them, are not exclusively our own, but belong to everyone around us.

  • CLAUDIO GNEUSZ
    Writer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Il paese dei sogni
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay
  • Number of Pages:
    120
  • Language:
    Italian
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Social World Film Festival
    Vico Equense, Italia
    May 29, 2025
    Selezione ufficiale
  • Vesuvio International Movie Awards
    Napoli, Italia
    November 12, 2025
    Semi-finalista
Writer Biography - CLAUDIO GNEUSZ

Born in Turin on February 15, 1968, raised in Novara, and now residing in the province of Milan, Claudio Gneusz is a professional translator and content creator. He holds a degree in Philology and is passionate about literature, music, cinema, mountain biking, hiking, yoga, and calisthenics.
From 2006 to 1014 he founded and directed “Gli Audiolibri”, an editorial company specialized in audiobooks. He has created a YouTube channel (Ticino Trek and Bike) dedicated to the places, history, and itineraries of the Ticino Valley.
With his short screenplay “Sei mesi di felicità” he was a finalist in the first edition of the Iria Award at the Voghera Film Festival and entered the Official Selection of the 2025 Cip International Film Festival.
His short screenplay “The Footprint Chaser” was “Monthly Pick” at Prisma Awards 2026 in Rome, “Nominee” at Liverpool India Awards and at Cannes Film Awards in 2026, and “Finalist” at 2026 LEEDSflix.
His feature film screenplay “Il paese dei sogni” was Semi-Finalist at 2025 Vesuvio International Movie Awards and was included in the official selection of 2025 Social World Film Festival.

Nato a Torino il 15 febbraio 1968, cresciuto a Novara e ora residente in provincia di Milano, Claudio Gneusz è traduttore e content creator di professione. È laureato in Filologia, è appassionato di letteratura, musica, cinema, Mountain bike, escursionismo, Yoga e Calisthenics. Dal 2006 al 2014 ha fondato e diretto la casa editrice “Gli Audiolibri”, specializzata in audiolibri. Ha creato un canale YouTube (Ticino Trek and Bike) dedicato ai luoghi, la storia e gli itinerari della Valle del Ticino.
Con la sceneggiatura per cortometraggio “Sei mesi di felicità” è stato Finalista nella prima edizione del Premio Iria del Voghera Film Festival ed è entrato nella Selezione Ufficiale del Cip International Film Festival del 2025.
La sua sceneggiatura per cortometraggio “Il cacciatore di orme” è stata “Monthly pick” al Prisma Awards 2026 di Roma, “Nominee” al Liverpool Indie Awards e al Cannes Film Award del 2026 e “Finalist” al LEEDSflix del 2026.
La sua sceneggiatura per lungometraggio “Il paese dei sogni” è stata Semi-Finalista al Vesuvio International Movie Awards del 2025 ed è entrata nella selezione ufficiale del Social Word Film Festival del 2025.

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