Beta and Mediawan Team on Sales of Marco Bellocchio’s Venice-Premiering TV Series ‘Portobello’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Germany’s Beta Film and France’s Mediawan Rights have teamed up to handle international sales in select territories on Italian auteur Marco Bellocchio‘s “Portobello” TV series, which reconstructs one of Italy’s most clamorous travesties of justice.

The six-episode limited series bows Monday at the Venice Film Festival.

As previously announced, “Portobello” will be the first HBO Original Italian production to launch on the HBO Max streaming platform, debuting in 2026. The series will be available on HBO Max globally, including the U.S., Latin America and Europe, excluding France and Germany. 

“Portobello” delves into the true story of popular Italian TV host Enzo Tortora who, among other programs, conducted a primetime game show titled “Portobello” that aired on Italian state broadcaster RAI starting from 1977 for seven seasons.

In 1985, Tortora was accused by several alleged ex-mobsters turned informants and state witnesses of being part of a Neapolitan crime syndicate dedicated to drug trafficking. After being sentenced to 10 years in prison and spending some time behind bars — plus enduring a lengthy trial — Tortora’s conviction was eventually fully overturned by Italy’s Supreme Court in 1987 amid widespread belief that the TV host had been the victim of corrupt judges and prosecutors.

The “Portobello” cast comprises frequent Bellocchio collaborator Fabrizio Gifuni as Tortora, plus Lino Musella, Romana Maggiora Vergano, Barbora Bobulova, Alessandro Preziosi and Fausto Russo Alesi.

Gifuni previously starred as former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro in Bellocchio’s limited TV series “Exterior Night,” about the 1978 kidnapping and assassination of the country’s leader by Red Brigades terrorists.

“Portobello” is produced by Bellocchio’s Kavac Film in tandem with Mediawan-owned Our Films. It is an Arte France co-production also in collaboration with Fremantle’s The Apartment Pictures. “Portobello” is written by Bellocchio with Stefano Bises (“Gomorrah”), Giordana Mari (“My Love”) and Peppe Fiore (“The King”).

After Venice, “Portobello” will also screen at the Toronto and Busan film festivals.

“We are very proud to join such a strong project together with Mediawan on the distribution side as well as Our Films and Kavac Film on the production side,” said Oliver Bachert, chief distribution officer at Beta Film. “Certainly, ‘Portobello’ will follow the success of Beta’s highlight series, such as ‘Gomorrah,’ ‘Rocco Schiavone,’ and ‘The Sea Beyond.’”

Commented Valérie Vleeschouwer, CEO Mediawan Rights: “We are proud to support a talent such as Marco Bellocchio, one of the most influential and acclaimed Italian filmmakers. It’s a real pleasure to partner with Beta Film on the international distribution of this prestigious program. And it reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting world’s best talents and IPs.”