In nineteenth-century southern Italy, a young shepherd abandons home to join a band of outlaws led by a brutal man, plunging into a world where he must choose between fate and free will, violence and mercy, damnation and redemption.
This is the true diary of bandit Michele Di Gè.
This is the true diary of bandit Michele Di Gè.
In nineteenth-century southern Italy, a young shepherd abandons home to join a band of outlaws led by a brutal man, plunging into a world where he must choose between fate and free will, violence and mercy, damnation and redemption.
This is the true diary of bandit Michele Di Gè.
This is the true diary of bandit Michele Di Gè.
Timeline
€ 30,000
Raised so far
So far € 30,000 has been raised in a preliminary round of funding.
€ 50,000
Minimum threshold
We need to reach at least € 50,000 move forward with shooting as planned in Rionero June 2026.
€ 78,000
Total Calculated Budget
The amount that we would need to complete shooting, post production, and bring the product to market.
Winter 2025/2026
Development
With a first draft of the script in hand, the core production team heads to Rionero in Vulture, Basilicata to establish relationships, find inspiration, and film a teaser.
Spring 2026
Preproduction
As we fundraise in the leadup to June, the core production team will relocate to Rionero to establish a pre-production basecamp with our partners at Visioni Urbane.
June 2026
Shooting Begins
The adventure begins! Shooting with the full troupe in Rionero starts the first week of June and will last 5 weeks until the beginning of July. Come and visit!
Budget
Budget
Become a part of this film forever.
Become
a part of
this film
forever.
We want to involve you as much as possible in the making of this film, which is why we have decided to give EVERY supporter who donates a credit in the end titles.
The more you donate though, the more meaningful these perks will become.
We don’t want to just give you merch – we want to give you experiences. We want to invite you to our fundraising cocktail events, our days shooting on location, our wrap parties and world premieres. We want to have supporters as extras, associate producers, co-producers and even exec producers on this journey.
The more you donate though, the more meaningful these perks will become.
We don’t want to just give you merch – we want to give you experiences. We want to invite you to our fundraising cocktail events, our days shooting on location, our wrap parties and world premieres. We want to have supporters as extras, associate producers, co-producers and even exec producers on this journey.
We want to involve you as much as possible in the making of this film, which is why we have decided to give EVERY supporter who donates a credit in the end titles.
The more you donate though, the more meaningful these perks will become.
We don’t want to just give you merch – we want to give you experiences. We want to invite you to our fundraising cocktail events, our days shooting on location, our wrap parties and world premieres. We want to have supporters as extras, associate producers, co-producers and even exec producers on this journey.
The more you donate though, the more meaningful these perks will become.
We don’t want to just give you merch – we want to give you experiences. We want to invite you to our fundraising cocktail events, our days shooting on location, our wrap parties and world premieres. We want to have supporters as extras, associate producers, co-producers and even exec producers on this journey.
Il Pastore
Personal Thank You Video from the Director
Access to exclusive BTS updates
"Special Thanks" Credit in End Titles
€8
Il Fuggiasco
Everything in previous tiers
Digital Copy of Final Film
High Quality Poster File for Print
€25
Il Brigante
Everything in previous tiers
2x Tickets to a Premiere
1x Limited Edition Poster
€100
Il Pastore
Personal Thank You Video from the Director
Access to exclusive BTS updates
"Special Thanks" Credit in End Titles
€8
Il Fuggiasco
Everything in previous tiers
Digital Copy of Final Film
High Quality Poster File for Print
€25
Il Brigante
Everything in previous tiers
2x Tickets to a Premiere
1x Limited Edition Poster
€100
Il Capobanda
Everything in previous tiers
2x Tickets to Pre-Shoot Fundraiser
1x Limited Edition Hand Printed T-Shirt
€250
Associate Producer
Everything in previous tiers
1x 'Associate Producer' Credit
2x Tickets to wrap party incl. travel
€500
Co-Producer
Everything in previous tiers
1x 'Co-Producer' Credit
1x Appearance as extra
€1000
Executive Producer
Everything in previous tiers
1x 'Executive Producer' Credit
1x Signed Screenplay
€3000
Il Capobanda
Everything in previous tiers
2x Tickets to Pre-Shoot Fundraiser
1x Limited Edition Hand Printed T-Shirt
€250
Associate Producer
Everything in previous tiers
1x 'Associate Producer' Credit
2x Tickets to wrap party incl. travel
€500
Co-Producer
Everything in previous tiers
1x 'Co-Producer' Credit
1x Appearance as extra
€1000
Executive Producer
Everything in previous tiers
1x 'Executive Producer' Credit
1x Signed Screenplay
€3000
Director's Vision
Diary of a Bandit is a film about a young man trying to find his way in the world, fighting against the tides of history and fate. It echoes our own present day, another time of seismic technological change, discontent with the establishment, idealism and violence. When I stumbled upon the diary of Michele Di Gè, published in 1912 as part of a compendium of ‘bandit tales’, I was immediately fascinated by his character – an individual who managed to encapsulate the anarchy of the period in which he lived, but someone also deeply introspective. Throughout his diary, Michele meditates on themes which pertain to the universal human experience: violence, regret, the role (or absence) of fate in our lives. Perhaps most interestingly, he is an unreliable narrator, a factor which turns him into a particularly complex protagonist, and makes the translation of his diary into film even more exciting – it’s not just about history, it’s about the uncertain boundary between history and myth.
Why this film?
This is a true story, never before told on screen. People love Westerns, and we love the old folk tales of the Italian countryside – this film combines both elements in a setting never before seen on screen. The badlands of post-Risorgimento Italy will feel both familiar and fresh, and that’s why they work as a pairing. If you liked The Revenant, There Will be Blood or Unforgiven, you’ll love this film too.
Production
Diary of a Bandit will be shot on location in the stunning region of Basilicata, with local actors alongside real shepherds, and careful attention to historical detail. Thanks to the support of the Comune of Rionero and Visioni Urbane, we have already saved a good deal of costs. With minimal locations, local cast and a small crew, the production can be shot on a very low budget.
Director's Vision
Diary of a Bandit is a film about a young man trying to find his way in the world, fighting against the tides of history and fate. It echoes our own present day, another time of seismic technological change, discontent with the establishment, idealism and violence. When I stumbled upon the diary of Michele Di Gè, published in 1912 as part of a compendium of ‘bandit tales’, I was immediately fascinated by his character – an individual who managed to encapsulate the anarchy of the period in which he lived, but someone also deeply introspective. Throughout his diary, Michele meditates on themes which pertain to the universal human experience: violence, regret, the role (or absence) of fate in our lives. Perhaps most interestingly, he is an unreliable narrator, a factor which turns him into a particularly complex protagonist, and makes the translation of his diary into film even more exciting – it’s not just about history, it’s about the uncertain boundary between history and myth.
Why this film?
This is a true story, never before told on screen. People love Westerns, and we love the old folk tales of the Italian countryside – this film combines both elements in a setting never before seen on screen. The badlands of post-Risorgimento Italy will feel both familiar and fresh, and that’s why they work as a pairing. If you liked The Revenant, There Will be Blood or Unforgiven, you’ll love this film too.
Production
Diary of a Bandit will be shot on location in the stunning region of Basilicata, with local actors alongside real shepherds, and careful attention to historical detail. Thanks to the support of the Comune of Rionero and Visioni Urbane, we have already saved a good deal of costs. With minimal locations, local cast and a small crew, the production can be shot on a very low budget.
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deeper.
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Meet the Team.
Meet
the Team.
Henry WorsleyWriter / Director
Miguel MendozaMain Cast
Andrea GuarnieriDirector of Photography
Tommaso ZandriProducer
Noemi MagagniniMain Cast
Donato PitoiaSoundtrack Composer
Get in touch.
