Warner Bros PicturesInternational is to collaborate on the production and release of twoItalian-language films in Italy, working with BiancaFilm on L'AmoreRitorna (Love Returns) and with Cattleya on Tre Metri Sopra Il Cielo (Three Steps Over Heaven).

Sergio Rubini will direct L'AmoreRitorna, a comedy-drama about acelebrated actor who reconsiders life after illness forces him to quit.

Rubini will also star in thefilm alongside Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Margherita Buy and Giovanna Mezzogiorno.Principal photography is due to begin on Aug 18.

Tre Metri Sopra Il Cielo will be directed by first-timer Luca Lucini and isdescribed as a coming-of-age tale in the vein of Rebel Without A Cause.

Newcomers RiccardoScamarcio, Katy Saunders, Mauro Meconi and Maria Chiara Augenti will star andprincipal photography is due to begin on Sept 8 in Rome.

"Our local productionacquisitions and collaborations from earlier this year have performed very wellfor us and, with the top-notch calibre of these latest films, we have highexpectations for continued success," Richard Fox, executive vicepresident of international, said in a statement.

"We're alwaysstriving to work with respected and well-established directors like Rubini andwe're also thrilled to be collaborating with Luca Lucini, as Warner BrosPictures International has never worked before with a first-time director inour local production efforts in Italy," Simona Benzakein, thecompany's vice president of European productions, added.

The two films are Warner BrosPictures International's third and fourth Italian-language collaborationsafter Carlo Vanzina's Febbre Da Cavallo - LaMandrakata and Carlo Verdone'sMa Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi.

Warner Home Video and WarnerBros International Television Distribution also hold rights for L'AmoreRitorna and Tre Metri Sopra IlCielo in Italy.