# La Pivellina

La Pivellina (The Little One) is a 2009 Austrian feature film debut directed by Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel. The film premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight, where it has been awarded the Europa Cinemas Label as Best European Film.

## Plot

Abandoned in a park, the two-year-old girl Asia is found by Patty, a circus woman living with her husband Walter in a trailer park in San Basilio on the outskirts of Rome. With the help of Tairo, a teenager who lives with his grandma in an adjacent container, Patti gives the girl a new home for an uncertain period of time. However, Walter is concerned that they may be accused of kidnapping the girl, and he plans to report Asia's presence to the police.
Patty receives a letter from the mother in which she announces that she will collect the girl two days later. They have a farewell party, but the mother does not show up.

## Cast

* Patrizia Gerardi as Patty
* Walter Saabel as Walter
* Asia Crippa as Asia
* Tairo Caroli as Tairo

## Release

La Pivellina has been screened in more than 130 International Film Festivals (including Berlinale, Toronto, Karlovy Vary, New York, San Francisco, Palm Springs) and received over 35 awards. La Pivellina is being released in more than 20 countries worldwide (including USA, Argentina, France, Italy, Brazil, Germany). The film was selected as the Austrian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards, but it didn't make the final shortlist.

## Awards (selection)

* 2009 may, Festival International du Film de Cannes
    Prix Europa Cinemas Label - Best European Film
* 2009 June, Pesaro Film Festival
    Premio "Lino Miccichè" - Best Feature Film
* 2009 aug, International Film Summerfest Durres
    Golden Gladiator for Best Feature Film
* 2009 aug, Annecy Cinéma Italien
    Prix d'Interprétation Féminine (Patrizia Gerardi) - Best Actress
    Prix Spécial du Jury
* 2009 oct, Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist
    Ecumenical Jury Prize
    Grand Prix "Scythian Deer" for Best Feature Film
    Yves Montand Prize for Best Acting (Patrizia Gerardi)
* 2009 oct, Mumbai International Film Festival
    Jury Grand Prize
* 2009 oct, Valdivia International Film Festival
    Mejor Película - Best Feature Film
    Premió de Público - Audience Award
* 2009 nov, Leeds International Film Festival
    Golden Owl Award for Best Feature Film
* 2009 nov, Gijón International Film Festival
    Premio "Principado de Asturias" Mejor Largometraje - Best Feature Film
    Premio Mejor Actriz (Patrizia Gerardi) - Best Actress
* 2009 nov, Castellininaria Festival Internazionale del Cinema Giovane Bellizona
    Premio “Ambiente e Salute: Qualità di Vita”
* 2010 jan, Festival Premiers Plans d'Angers
    Grand Prix for Best Feature Film
    Prix Mademoiselle Ladubay Long Metrage - Best Actress (Patrizia Gerardi)
* 2010 mar, Diagonale
    Grand Prix for Best Austrian Feature Film 2009/10
* 2010 apr, Indie Lisboa
    Distribution Award Caixa Geral de Depósitos
* 2010 apr, Festival Cinematográfico Internacional de Uruguay
    Mencione del Jurado
    Mencione del Jurado FIPRESCI Uruguay
* 2010 April, Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente
    Premio UNICEF
* 2010 June, Nastri d'Argento:
    Menzione Speciale Migliore Opera Prima
* 2010 July, Bimbi Belli Roma
    Premio Miglior Film - Best Feature Film
    Premio Miglior Attrice - Best Actress (Patrizia Gerardi)
* 2010 July, Gallio Film Festival
    Premio del Pubblico – Audience Award
    Premio Migliore Opera Prima
* 2010 aug, Sarzana Film Festival
    Premio "Cineforum Sarzana" Migliore Film - Best Feature Film