Anna Foglietta on Working With Alba Rohrwacher on Venice Drama ‘A Common Story’ ‘You Have to Have the Guts to Show Yourself Exactly as You Are’ — Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)
What's happening
Director Anna Foglietta is premiering her drama 'A Common Story' at the Venice Film Festival, marking her return to the Lido in a new creative role. The film stars Alba Rohrwacher and includes an exclusive trailer reveal.
Who's involved
Anna Foglietta is an actor-turned-director best known internationally for her role in the Italian hit 'Perfect Strangers'; she previously served as the Venice Film Festival's official emcee in 2020. Alba Rohrwacher co-stars in Foglietta's directorial debut.
Why it matters
Foglietta's transition from acting to directing represents a significant career pivot, with her debut feature entering competition at one of the world's most prestigious film festivals. The Venice Film Festival, established in 1951 as the world's oldest film festival and ranked among the 'Big Five' international festivals, provides major industry visibility and validation for emerging filmmakers.
The story
Anna Foglietta is returning to the Venice Film Festival in a markedly different capacity this year. The Italian actor, who served as the event's official emcee in 2020, has now arrived on the Lido as a filmmaker, bringing her directorial debut 'A Common Story' to one of the world's most prestigious cinema showcases.
Foglietta brings considerable recognition to her new venture behind the camera. She is best known to international audiences for her role in 'Perfect Strangers,' Italy's acclaimed drama that gained widespread attention globally. That profile, combined with her on-camera experience and understanding of performance, appears to inform her work as a director tackling intimate character-driven material.
Central to 'A Common Story' is a collaboration with acclaimed actor Alba Rohrwacher, whose presence signals the caliber of talent Foglietta has assembled for her feature debut. The film's themes, as suggested by its title and Foglietta's own commentary about vulnerability in performance, appear to center on shared human experience and the willingness of performers to expose their authentic selves. According to Variety, Foglietta has emphasized that actors "have to have the guts to show yourself exactly as you are"—a directorial philosophy that positions emotional honesty as central to her vision.
The Venice Film Festival remains the world's oldest film festival and maintains status among the 'Big Five' international festivals worldwide, alongside Toronto and Sundance. Its selection of 'A Common Story' reflects recognition of Foglietta's work and positions her debut for significant industry attention. For a filmmaker transitioning from performance to direction, such placement at Venice carries considerable weight in establishing credibility within the international film community.
The exclusive trailer release accompanying the festival premiere provides early insight into Foglietta's directorial approach and her working relationship with Rohrwacher, offering audiences and industry professionals a first glimpse at her creative priorities as a filmmaker.