Short film in competition

Revolver

Directed by Paoli De Luca
Italy 2026
Runtime 20'

Naples. In a pulsing techno club – a playground of desire, dominance, and survival – bodies collide under the strobe lights. At the heart of it all Ronga, a trans go-go dancer, keeps moving and spinning inside an iron cage. On her high heels, she feeds the hunger of the crowd. Orbiting around her are Daniel, a photographer drawn to her raw beauty; Manuel, a toxic and predatory obsession; and Medusa, the club’s enigmatic queen, ruling from the highest platform, two machine guns embedded in her bra – her Revolvers. Between drinks, beats, and games of power, Ronga fights for her dignity within the cruel hierarchy of her nocturnal world.

Directed by
Paoli De Luca

Screenplay
Paoli De Luca, Federico Amenta, Sofia Corbascio

Cinematography
Francesca Avanzini

Editing
Marco Balzano

Music
Lenno Ten Kate, Joselito Ke, Marculedu

Sound
Anna Radaelli, Francesco Agnello, Paolo Daino, Verdiana Romeo

Cast
Ronga, Laura Sciaudone (alias Medus), Daniele Sanduzzi, Manuel Severino
con la partecipazione di Iaia Forte

Production Design
Camilla Ruggieri

Costumes
Lucrezia Neri, Claudia De Lucia

Production
Centro Sperimentale di CinematografiaAnemone Film

Italian Distributor
The Open Reel

SIC@SIC 2026 - Paoli De Luca

Paoli De Luca (1999) was born in Naples and attended the Accademia di Belle Arti, where they developed their fotoromanzo Fera (2018), which debuted at the Naples Film Festival. They have collaborated with Vogue Italia, Harper’s Bazaar, and the MACRO Museum in Rome. In 2021, they wrote and directed Echi, which was screened at the Cineteca di Bologna. They are currently studying Filmmaking at the CSC in Rome. Their short feature Star (2024) was screened at Cinema Troisi, while Marina (2025) premiered at the 40. Venice Settimana Internazionale della Critica, going on to win the award for Best Short Film.