My Tennis Maestro
| My Tennis Maestro | |
|---|---|
 Italian promotional poster | |
| Italian | Il maestro |
| Directed by | Andrea Di Stefano |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Matteo Cocco |
| Edited by | Giogiò Franchini |
| Music by | Bartosz Szpak |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Vision Distribution |
Release dates |
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Running time | 125 minutes |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian |
My Tennis Maestro (Italian: Il maestro, lit. 'The master') is a 2025 Italian sports drama film directed by Andrea Di Stefano and starring Pierfrancesco Favino. The film had its world premiere out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 31 August 2025. It received a theatrical release in Italy on 13 November 2025.
Cast
- Pierfrancesco Favino as Raul Gatti
- Tiziano Menichelli as Felice
- Giovanni Ludeno
- Dora Romano
- Paolo Briguglia
- Valentina Bellè
- Edwige Fenech
- Chiara Bassermann
- Roberto Zibetti
- Fabrizio Careddu
- Carlo Gallo
Production
Director Andrea Di Stefano, who played tennis in his youth, co-wrote the screenplay with Ludovica Rampoldi, with its first draft dating back to 2005.[1] Di Stefano had previously worked with actor Pierfrancesco Favino on his 2023 film, Last Night of Amore.[2] The production is a collaboration between Indiana Production, Indigo Film, and Vision Distribution.[3]
Principal photography began in late 2024. Filming took place in Rome, Gaeta, Portonovo, San Benedetto del Tronto, and Grottammare.[3]
Release
Playtime owns the international sales rights to the film.[4][5][6] The film had its world premiere out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 31 August 2025.[1] It received a theatrical release in Italy on 13 November 2025.[7]
Critical response
Giorgia Del Don of Cineuropa highlighted the performances of Pierfrancesco Favino and Tiziano Menichelli, noting the chemistry between the lead characters and the "extreme attention to details" for the depiction of 1980s Italy as strengths of the film.[8] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian noted that, while Pierfrancesco Favino delivers a compelling lead performance, the film falters in its final act, unable to settle between underdog triumph and a critique of win-at-all-costs culture, leaving unresolved emotional arcs and an unsatisfying conclusion.[9]
References
- ^ a b Giampaolo, Claudia (31 August 2025). "Il Maestro, Pierfrancesco Favino: «Non chiedetemi di fare Sinner!»". Ciak (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ Sisti, Carlotta (27 August 2025). "Pierfrancesco Favino è Il Maestro di tennis che tutti vorremmo". Elle Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ a b Gionti, Andrea (8 October 2024). "Tennis vista mare: ciak di Favino a Gaeta". Il Messaggero (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ Leffler, Rebecca (7 May 2025). "Playtime to court buyers with Italian sports drama 'My Tennis Maestro' starring Pierfrancesco Favino". Screen Daily. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (21 August 2025). "Playtime heads to Venice to promote My Tennis Maestro and Gorgonà". Cineuropa. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ Luca, Nino (31 August 2025). "«Il Maestro» di tennis di Favino e l'appello a Sinner: «Se hai bisogno Raul Gatti è qui per te»". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ Saltalamacchia, Stefania (31 August 2025). "Pierfrancesco Favino al Festival di Venezia 2025: «Siamo ossessionati dal successo, ma si può stare al mondo anche se non vinci. Gaza? Libertà assoluta di manifestare»". Vanity Fair Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ Del Don, Giorgia (1 September 2025). "Review: My Tennis Maestro". Cineuropa. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (31 August 2025). "My Tennis Maestro review – unforced errors keep Italian coming-of-age comedy from grand slam". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 September 2025.