The directors of Italian production Toto, Who Lived Twice are standing trial in Italy this week on charges of fraud and blasphemy which were brought against them by the state.

The Palermo filmmakers, Daniele Cipri and Franceso Maresco, became local celebrities last year when their publicly-funded movie was banned by a Rome court for mixing religious, especially Roman Catholic, imagery with sex.

In the meantime, several cinemas said they will screen the movie in protest today (Feb 7), the first day of the trial, and a petition has been circulated and signed by hundreds of industry members protesting the censorship.