Wishing on a Star

Neapolitan astrologer Luciana helps her clients find love through “birthday trips” to places where the stars promise a new beginning.

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Original title: Wishing on a star
Other titles: Je to vo hviezdach (SK), Je to ve hvězdách (CZ)
Genre: Docudrama
Length: 99 minutes
Copyright: 2024
Production countries: Italy, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Taiwan
World sales: Films Butique
Distribution: Films Butique
Release: September 26, 2024

Synopsis

A comedy documentary about the search for happiness. The Italian astrologist Lucciana can alter the destinies of people. On their birthdays they have to travel to whatever location on Earth has the ideal constellation of planets over it. They will be reborn on that day and so be able to change their nature. On the one hand, the film follows the everyday (and unchanging) life of the fortune-teller who changes the lives of people while, on the other hand, it follows five protagonists who set out to various places in the world in order to change their lives.

Credits

Director: Peter Kerekes
Story: Erica Barbiani
Screenplay: Peter Kerekes, Erica Barbiani
DOP: Martin Kollár
Editor: Marek Šulík
Sound: Michal Gábor
Music: Lucia Chuťková
Production: Videomante (IT)
Co-production: Mischief films (AT), Artcam Films (CZ), Re-start (HR), Volos films (TW), kerekesfilm (SK)
Producer: Erica Barbiani, Lucia Candelpergher, Peter Kerekes, Ralph Wieser, Stefano Centini, Vít Schmarc, Anna Mach Rumanová, Vanja Jambrović
Cast:
Luciana de Leoni D’Asparedo
Valentina Angeli
Alessandra Fornasier
Barbara Lutman
Giovanni Rugo
Adriana Vangone
Giuliana Vangone

Support

Audiovisual Fund, Creative Europe (since 2014), Friuli Film Fund, Ancine, Czech Film Fund

World premiere

August 28, 2024, 81st Venice International Film Festival, Orizzonti section

Festivals

Nominees

Chicago IFF – Gold Hugo Nomination for Best Documentary (USA, 2024)
Venice IFF – Horizons Award Nomination for Best Film (Italy, 2024)
Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival, 2024 – Peter Kerekes (Czech Joy: Best Czech Documentary Film)
Sun in a Net Awards – Best Director Nomination: Peter Kerekes (Slovakia, 2025)
Sun in a Net Awards – Best Screenplay Nomination: Peter Kerekes (Slovakia, 2025)
Sun in a Net Awards – Best Cinematography Nomination: Martin Kollár (Slovakia, 2025)
Sun in a Net Awards – Best Documentary Feature Nomination: Anna Mach Rumanová, Erica Barbiani, Peter Kerekes, Ralph Wieser, Vanja Jambrović, Vít Schmarc (Slovakia, 2025)

Media

POV Magazine

“Kerekes captures the story with a great sense of play, offering moments of deadpan humour as he travels with Luciana’s clients to faraway places.” Pat Mullen, POV Magazine
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THE FILM VERDICT

“A playful, lighthearted hybrid doc from Peter Kerekes on steering one’s fate, as an Italian astrologer sends her troubled clients off globetrotting.” Carmen Gray, The Film Verdict
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CINEUROPA

“Kerekes‘ approach blends humour and empathy, offering a nuanced portrayal of his subjects‘ lives and their quest for happiness under Luciana’s astrological guidance.” Martin Kudláč, Cineuropa
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SCREEN DAILY

“Wishing on a Star is a warm, eccentric and frequently amusing documentary hybrid that maps the journeys of Luciana and her clients as they pursue their dreams.” Wendy Ide, Screen Daily
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