Action! Elio turns director, with PizzAut’s young people in the cast
Elio is preparing La Crepa, his first film as a director. PizzAut’s young people will appear alongside professional actors, putting inclusion in front of the camera.
Remember Elio? The musician behind La terra dei cachi, with the wonderfully odd songs and outrageous costumes? He has another surprise in store: for the first time, he is taking the director’s chair on a feature film. And guess who will be appearing in it? Alongside professional actors, there will be people who work at PizzAut.
From waiting tables to the big screen
If you have not heard of PizzAut, make a note of the name. It is Nico Acampora’s dream made real: pizzerias in Cassina de’ Pecchi and Monza, Italy, employing autistic young people. They make dough, serve tables and work at the till. Here, inclusion means a real job.
Now some of them will be moving from the dining room to a film set. The names announced include Lorenzo, Christian, Letizia, Matteone and Balù. Nico, the project’s founder, will also be in the cast.
A film made with PizzAut
PizzAut’s announcement sums it up: Elio wants to make a film with PizzAut, rather than simply tell its story from the outside. The project also said that its young people would make up more than half the cast.
In practice, autistic characters will be played by autistic people. They will have the chance to take leading roles and bring their own experience to the screen, alongside professional actors.
And what a supporting cast!
Geppi Cucciari, known for her sharp wit on Italian television. Pietro Sermonti, who played Guido in Un medico in famiglia and Stanis in Boris. Margherita Vicario, the singer, actor and director. Paolo Rossi and Cochi Ponzoni, two longstanding names in Italian comedy. Galatea Bellugi and Donatella Finocchiaro. And, of course, Elio himself.
Why Elio?
For him, autism is more than a subject for a film: it is also part of family life. Elio is Dante’s father and has taken part in autism awareness initiatives for years. His friendship with PizzAut runs deep: in 2021, he put on an apron and spent an evening waiting tables alongside the team at its Cassina de’ Pecchi pizzeria.
He wrote the screenplay with Piero Bodrato. As for the tone, the film is described as an acerbic comedy: funny, sharp and grounded in reality. Its stated aim is to portray everyday life with autism, including both the challenges and the joy, without turning it into a tale of pity.
When can we see it?
The project was announced in late September 2026. At the time of publication, filming is due to begin in November 2026. The film has not been released yet.
Production: tempesta with Rai Cinema, in co-production with Cinédokké. Italian cinema distribution: 01 Distribution. The release date has yet to be announced.
Why this story makes us smile
Telling people’s stories also means giving them the chance to speak. Or, in this case, to step in front of the camera! In 1 Corinthians 12:22, Saint Paul describes the parts of the body that seem weaker as indispensable. This is CHIARA!’s reflection on the news: recognising each person’s worth and contribution.
PizzAut’s young people deserve opportunities, the right support and room to express themselves. This project opens up another possibility, this time on the big screen.
Have you ever visited PizzAut? Write to our editorial team and tell us about it!
For more stories of inclusion, read about Marco Rossetti and BisBuoni and the hands helping Lega del Filo d’Oro.
