Private Project

Casa Bella

When queer Italian-Australian Bella Cucinotta finds out her father is about to die, she is forced to confront the crazy world she tried to escape all those years ago, not to mention the mother she ran away from.

  • Jack McGuigan
    Director
  • Jennifer Leonforte
    Director
  • Jennifer Leonforte
    Writer
  • Lucy Hicks
    Producer
  • Kelsey Porteous
    Producer
  • Bridget Noonan
    Key Cast
    "Bella Cucinotta"
  • Panayiota
    Key Cast
    "Serafina Cucinotta"
  • Amy Louise Dixon
    Key Cast
    "Maria"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Women
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 28 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 4, 2017
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English, Italian
  • Shooting Format:
    HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Distribution Information
  • QUT Film Screen Animation
Director Biography - Jack McGuigan, Jennifer Leonforte

Aspiring Film Screenwriter, Location Recordist and Sound Designer.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Casa Bella is close to my heart, inspired from my chaotic, loveable and diverse Italian family.

Its beginnings is rooted in losing my grandfather in 2016, and from there grew a story,though unique and specific, that I found many connected to in a deeply emotional way.

Everyone has experienced loss in some form or another, and I wanted to give grief its space in film, in a way I hadn’t seen done before. I wanted to explore the intersections of Migrant culture with Australian culture, LGBTIQ+ themes, and gender stereotypes, but not in a way that they became what drove the film.

These undercurrents have subtly driven my family dynamics for as long as I know. I felt I was in a unique position to illuminate these all coming together on screen in one story. Through filming, this story became everyone’s story - the crew and the cast. It was an honour to share my world with such talented young filmmakers.