What Greta e le favole vere is about
Set in present-day Rome, Greta e le favole vere follows a resourceful 9-year-old named Greta who stumbles onto an unlikely rescue mission. She frees a polar bear cub that's being held captive by the Staroccias—a criminal family operating in the city. What starts as a single act of defiance spirals into something bigger: Greta teams up with her friends Sauro, Nicola, and Katie to attempt the impossible. Inspired by climate activist Greta Thunberg, the kids set their sights on returning the cub to the North Pole, where a major climate-crisis awareness demonstration is underway. It's a premise that blends adventure, humor, and environmental consciousness—the kind of story that doesn't talk down to younger audiences.
What we know so far
The film is directed by Berardo Carboni, who founded the production company Piroetta s.r.l. back in 2015. According to comingsoon.it, the cast includes Sara Ciocca, Raoul Bova, Donatella Finocchiaro, Sabrina Impacciatore, Federico Cesari, Demetra Bellina, Mattia Garaci, and Darko Peric. The screenplay was crafted by Carboni alongside Valeria Giasi and Fabio Di Ranno, with cinematography by Sandro Chessa and Tani Canevari. The production—a collaboration between Pegasus, Rai Cinema, Mattia's Film, QMI, and Vision Distribution—was shot over six weeks across Rome and the Trentino-Alto Adige region. Music comes from composer Alessio Bonomo.
What's striking is how this isn't just a kids' film pretending at relevance. The environmental thread running through it—the polar bear, the Arctic demonstration, the Thunberg reference—isn't window dressing. It's woven into the story itself, the reason these kids risk everything. That takes intention.
Why it's anticipated
Italian family cinema has a long tradition of sneaking real-world stakes into entertaining narratives. This one arrives at a moment when audiences are hungry for films that don't separate children from the world they'll inherit. The cast alone signals ambition—Raoul Bova is a heavyweight in Italian cinema, and Donatella Finocchiaro brings depth to every project she touches. Carboni's track record with Piroetta suggests he's not interested in making something disposable.
The film's selection for out-of-competition screening at the 2026 Giffoni Film Festival—one of Europe's most prestigious youth film festivals—is telling. Festival programmers don't slot films there lightly. There's confidence baked into that choice.
Release and where to watch
Greta e le favole vere is scheduled for theatrical release in Italy on August 6, 2026, distributed by Vision Distribution. As of now, it hasn't yet been released, and streaming or OTT availability hasn't been confirmed. Movie OTT will track platform announcements as rights deals are finalized—check back here for updates on where you'll be able to watch it once it arrives. The Where-to-Watch widget will reflect availability as soon as it's announced.
Frequently asked questions
When is Greta e le favole vere releasing?
The film is scheduled for theatrical release in Italy on August 6, 2026. It'll screen out of competition at the Giffoni Film Festival in July 2026 before the wider release.
Is Greta e le favole vere out yet?
No. The film hasn't been released. It's expected to arrive in August 2026.
Where will I be able to watch Greta e le favole vere?
Streaming and OTT availability hasn't been confirmed yet. It's coming to Italian theaters first. Movie OTT will update this page as soon as platform deals are announced.
Who's in the cast?
Sara Ciocca, Raoul Bova, Donatella Finocchiaro, Sabrina Impacciatore, Federico Cesari, Demetra Bellina, Mattia Garaci, and Darko Peric.
Who directed it?
Berardo Carboni, an Italian filmmaker and founder of production company Piroetta s.r.l.
What to look forward to
A film that trusts its audience—young and old alike—to care about something beyond the screen. That's rare. The combination of a heist-adjacent adventure, environmental stakes, and a cast that doesn't phone it in makes this one worth marking your calendar for. August 2026 can't come soon enough.
