Senior acquisitions manager, I Wonder Pictures
- Joined Banijay Italia as head of documentary unit in 2018
- Joined the acquisitions department of I Wonder Pictures in 2021
After earning a masters in political science from Luiss Guido Carli University in Rome, Tocci put his interest in politics and current affairs to good use by embarking on a career in documentaries. He cut his teeth selling documentaries at Rome-based GA&A, then switched to documentary production at Banijay Italia.
Since 2021, he has worked in acquisitions for Italian distributor I Wonder, which releases both fiction features and documentaries. His current role combines business affairs and content scouting.
Over the past two years, Tocci has been part of a journey that has seen I Wonder evolve from a boutique distributor of indie films to one that releases bigger and bolder titles from the US. Recent films include The Substance and the company has an output deal with A24 that includes Death Of A Unicorn. “I’ve witnessed rapid change here since I started, and all of us at I Wonder have contributed to it,” says Tocci.
This has been achieved despite the pandemic disruptions that continue to throw up challenges for distributors, including the fact that in many territories the 50-plus audience has not returned to cinemas in their pre-pandemic numbers. Other challenges include broadcasters being more focused on series, making it harder for indie distributors to sell the TV window on titles, and finding the right marketing strategies to attract younger audiences.
“It’s all a challenge, but it’s very exciting,” says Tocci, adding that the best lesson he has learned along the way is to nurture long-term relationships in the industry. “Transparency and co-operation are the keys for long-term success.”
Contact: Francesco Tocci
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