Venice/Paris/Munich, 1 September 2025. It is about one of Italy’s most sensational miscarriages of justice: Portobello tells the story of star presenter Enzo Tortora, the “king” of Italian television in the 1980s, and a row of tragic events that led to the ruin of an innocent man.

Beta Film and Mediawan Rights have partnered up to handle the international distribution of the drama series directed by the multi-awarded Marco Bellocchio (The Traitor, Exterior Night, Kidnapped). The six-hour drama will celebrate its world premiere today as one of the very few handpicked television series at this year’s Venice International Film Festival in the section Out of Competition. From the producers behind My Brilliant Friend and The Young Pope, the drama series also runs at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of their Primetime section.

Portobello is produced by Our Films, a company of the Mediawan group, and Kavac Film, in co-production with ARTE France and in collaboration with Rai Fiction and The Apartment Pictures, a company of the Fremantle group. It is produced by Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani for Our Films and by Simone Gattoni for Kavac Film. Portobello will be the first HBO Original Italian production to launch on the HBO Max streaming platform, debuting in 2026.

1982: Enzo Tortora is at the height of his success. He hosts the legendary TV show called Portobello, reaching 28 million viewers, when he suddenly and unexpectedly finds himself in the crosshairs of law enforcement targeting the Mafia. Just two years prior, the crime syndicate Nuova Camorra received a final blow. Now, regular Portobello viewer and leading mobster in custody Giovanni Pandico decides to confess. When questioned by the judges, Giovanni gives them an unexpected name: Enzo Tortora. On June 17, 1983, the Carabinieri knock on the door of Enzo’s hotel room. He thinks it must be a mistake, but it is only the beginning of an odyssey that will drag him from the top into the abyss.

The series stars Fabrizio Gifuni (My Brilliant Friend) in the lead role as Enzo Tortora, alongside Lino Musella (Hand of God), Romana Maggiora Vergano (La Storia), Barbora Bobulova (Sicilian Letters), Carlotta Gamba (Dostoevskij), Alessandro Preziosi (Leopardi. The Poet of the Infinite), Fausto Russo Alesi (Kidnapped, Exterior Night), and Salvatore D’Onofrio (Il Divo). 

The series is written by Marco Bellocchio, Stefano Bises (Gomorrah), Giordana Mari (My Love), and Peppe Fiore (The King).

Oliver Bachert, Chief Distribution Officer, Beta Film: “We are very proud to join such a strong project together with Mediawan on the distribution side as well as Our Films and Kavac Film on the production side. Portobello sheds a light on one of Italy’s most controversial and dramatic miscarriages of justice. With its powerful storytelling centered around the tragic case of Enzo Tortora, we’re confident that the series will celebrate a memorable premiere in Venice and will go on to captivate audiences worldwide. We are excited to continue our long-lasting collaboration with Marco Bellochios’s Kavac Film. Certainly, Portobello will follow the success of Beta’s highlight series, such as Gomorrah, Rocco Schiavone, and The Sea Beyond.”

Valérie Vleeschouwer, CEO Mediawan Rights: “We are proud to support a talent such as Marco Bellocchio, one of the most influential and acclaimed Italian filmmakers. It’s a real pleasure to partner with Beta Film on the international distribution of this prestigious program. And it reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting world’s best talents & IPs.”