Balcanica

Balcanica (2026)



7.6 2026 81 min —

Director: Nicola Sorcinelli

Cast: Matilda De Angelis, Babak Karimi, Ivar Wafaei, Giovanni Toscano

Drama
An entire nation silenced—music outlawed in Afghanistan. Now, a distinguished orchestra conductor and his tuba-playing son must leave everything behind, chasing hope along the treacherous Balkan migration trail. Their exodus stretches into an odyssey of uncertainty, until a chance meeting with a compassionate Italian physician alters their trajectory forever. What begins as a desperate escape spirals into a profound, life-altering connection—one that reshapes the destinies of the father, the son, and the doctor who dares to help them.

More About This Film

Balcanica is an Italian-Serbian-Croatian drama about Nazar, an Afghan orchestra conductor, and his tuba-playing son Jalil as they travel along the Balkan route toward Italy. Their shared goal is connected to music, while the dangerous journey forces them to confront the uncertainty of displacement and the possibility of a new life.

Nicola Sorcinelli directs his first feature film with a story that brings together migration, music, and unexpected human connection. Matilda De Angelis, Babak Karimi, Ivar Wafaei, and Giovanni Toscano lead the cast, with the Balkan landscape serving as an important part of the film's visual identity.

  • Directed by Nicola Sorcinelli.
  • Screenplay by Sorcinelli and Andrea Brusa.
  • Matilda De Angelis, Babak Karimi, Ivar Wafaei, and Giovanni Toscano star.
  • The film is Sorcinelli's feature directorial debut.
  • It was selected for the 2026 Venice Film Festival's Giornate degli Autori competition and received a People's Choice Award.

Where to Watch

Balcanica is in international festival and theatrical distribution, so digital availability depends on local distributors.