Greta Scarano Wins European Award for Autism Drama, “Life as a Adultâ€
Italy’s Greta Scarano has been awarded the European Film Award for Best Debut Director for her film, “Life as a Adult†(original title: La vita da grandi), a poignant and direct portrayal of autism based on a true story. The win, announced at the European Film Awards (EFA) in Berlin, marks a important achievement for the actress-turned-director, who described herself as an “outsider†during the ceremony.
Scarano recounted a humorous moment following the win, stating, “At the ceremony I looked for Mads Mikkelsen to take a photo with him, before I didn’t feel entitled to take it, when I won I took courage. But he was already gone, I missed the moment.†She also noted receiving congratulations from fellow Italian filmmakers Alice Rohrwacher and Toni Servillo.
The director expressed surprise at the victory,admitting,“Absolutely. When they said ‘Siblings’ — the title in English — I was shocked, I didn’t expect it, the candidacy had already been a huge thing.†Scarano delivered her acceptance speech in italian, joining other artists who chose to speak in their native languages to celebrate European diversity.
Despite critical acclaim, Scarano acknowledged the challenges facing the film industry, noting, “The cinema is in difficulty, fewer and fewer people go, but it needs to be helped, it creates income and wealth.†However, she expressed satisfaction with her film’s performance, stating it earned a million euros at the box office, aided by screenings in schools.
Scarano intentionally aimed to present a nuanced depiction of autism, stating, “Without giving the lesson, I made a generalist film…which responds to my popular aptitudes, I made a commercial film, in the good sense of the term.†This approach distinguishes her work from that of directors like Alice Rohrwacher, whose films often take a more experimental path.
the film also explores themes of fear and failure,a sentiment Scarano connects to her own experiences as an actress. She recalled challenging auditions, including unsuccessful attempts to land roles in an international costume drama in Prague and Paolo Sorrentino’s The Grate Beauty. “There I had enormous suffering, I was very young,†she said, describing a role initially offered as a nun that ultimately became a fleeting beach scene in the film.
The conversation also touched upon the issue of abuse within the film industry,prompted by Valeria Bruni Tedeschi’s recent public denouncement of past experiences. While Scarano herself hadn’t experienced abuse, she recalled an unsettling encounter with a young director.“No.But a young director shocked me with his strange attempts to get closer. I didn’t have the courage to react. I ran away,†she explained, adding that the industry at the time was characterized by “an annoying male condescension.â€
Scarano first gained recognition for her role in A Place in the Sun, a project she described as aligning with her “desire for independence.†She also discussed her experience portraying Ilary Blasi in the biographical series I was hoping he would die sooner about footballer Francesco Totti,praising Blasi’s “sagacity and irony.â€
When asked about childhood influences, Scarano revealed a preference for music over conventional Hollywood icons. “I love Meryl Streep and Monica Vitti but no posters, I drew Pink Floyd on the walls of my room,†she shared.
Beyond acting and directing, Scarano maintains a passion for music, specifically drumming. She recounted learning to play as a teenager during summer vacations in Italy, performing with local musicians. “I learned when I was 16 on holiday with my grandparents…And we played. There was a little love involved,†she said, adding that her father eventually enrolled her in formal drum lessons after she’d mastered playing Max Pezzali songs on the car dashboard.
Looking ahead, Scarano expressed a desire to continue telling stories and to balance her roles as an actress and director. She admitted to experiencing performance anxiety, which manifested as tinnitus following the completion of Life as a Adult. “The first direction was love at first sight despite the effort of writing…Then the difficulty of letting go of the film once it’s finished is certain,†she explained. She is currently starring in Small Miracle by Guido Chiesa, playing a blind character, a role she managed to take on with the support of her family — her mother, mother-in-law, and husband, Sydney Sibilia, whom she met on the set of I stop when I want.“Only he could understand the love I put into my film,†she said.
January 18, 2026
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