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a useless heart

When her father is arrested due to mafia association, Sam, a withered 20-year-old with a small social media following, takes refuge at an aunt's house to escape the media uproar. The man's escape from prison, however, soon compromises the relationship between Sam and her followers, forcing the girl to decide which "family" to save, to protect herself.

  • Mattia de Gennaro
    Director
  • Mattia de Gennaro
    Writer
  • Mattia de Gennaro
    Producer
  • Alessandra Quacquarelli
    Key Cast
    "Sam"
  • Dino La Cecilia
    Key Cast
    "Achille Russo (Caffellatte)"
  • Fabio Maggio
    Key Cast
    "Henchman"
  • Isabella Ragno
    Key Cast
    "Journalist Voice #1"
  • Umberto Jr Contini
    Key Cast
    "Journalist Voice #2"
  • Gioele La Torre
    Key Cast
    "Policeman #1"
  • Francesco Saverio Di Mola
    Key Cast
    "Policeman #2"
  • Davide d'Addato
    Director of Photography
  • Beatrice Fernandes de Sousa
    First Assistant Director
  • Giorgia De Filippo
    Assistant Director
  • Gabriele Ciavarella
    Camera Operator
  • Davide d'Addato
    Editing
  • Gabriele Ciavarella
    Editing
  • Davide d'Addato
    Color Correction & Grading
  • Gabriele Ciavarella
    Color Correction & Grading
  • Gabriele Ciavarella
    Sound Design
  • Alessandra Quacquarelli
    Makeup
  • Gabriele Ciavarella
    Vfx
  • Beatrice Fernandes de Sousa
    Sfx Makeup
  • Giorgia De Filippo
    Sfx Makeup
  • Gabriele Ciavarella
    First Assistant Camera (1st AC)
  • Beatrice Fernandes de Sousa
    Second Assistant Camera (2nd AC)
  • Beatrice Fernandes de Sousa
    Runners
  • Giorgia De Filippo
    Runners
  • Beatrice Fernandes de Sousa
    Still Photographer
  • vekst
    Original Soundtrack
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    un cuore inutile
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    33 minutes 12 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 10, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    100 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Italy
  • Country of Filming:
    Italy
  • Language:
    Italian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Academy of Fine Arts of Foggia
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • GARGANO FILMFEST XVII – PROVO.CORTO 2025
    San Giovanni Rotondo
    Italy
    December 7, 2025
    World Premiere
    Best Cinematography
  • VisiOn Film Festival
    Caserta
    Italy
    December 19, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Ponza Film Festival
    Ponza
    Italy
    March 20, 2026
    Best Student Film
Director Biography - Mattia de Gennaro

Mattia de Gennaro is a director and screenwriter. After graduating in “Cinema, Photography and Audiovisual” from the Academy of Fine Arts of Foggia, he continued his studies in Rome, being among the 12 candidates chosen to join the School of Screenwriting “Leo Benvenuti”, founded in 2019 by Francesco Ranieri Martinotti, Umberto Marino, Nicola Guaglianone and Gabriele Mainetti. He is currently enrolled in “Audiovisual Theories and Tecniques” at the Academy of Fine Arts of Rome.

In 2022 he debut with the short film "janelas verdes' dream", winning the second place at the "Rotary Art Award Medusa - XXII edition". In the same year he writes and directs first "on brothers and other evils", a short film produced in collaboration with the "Piccolo Teatro" of Foggia and then "AKKA", realized within "Fossi Art Village" during "Residenze AKKA", which has won nominations and prestigious awards, such as the "Honorable Mention" of the Student World Impact Film Festival and the "Young Director Award" at the Cefalù Film Festival, during which he was also awarded the "Honorable Mention" of the Jury, two months before winning the University Award section of the Student Film Festival of Foggia. In 2024, his short film "what remains of nothing" won the Best Short Film Award at the Intermunicipal Festival of Amateur Cinema in Brescia, two awards from the CORTOCIRCUITI Short Film Festival of Bari (People’s Choice/ Students' Choice Apulian Student Short Film) and the “Best Director Award” of the Student Film Festival of Foggia. In August 2024, his short film "I dreamed there was sea in Milan" won the "Memory Ciak" section of the Bookciak, Azione! Award, pre-opening event of the Giornate degli Autori at the 81st International Venice Film Festival.

His latest short film, "A Useless Heart," is his diploma thesis.

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