Festivals - PIFFF 2025 : The Holy Boy — Paolo Strippoli Brings a Chilling Vision of Pain and Faith to the Max Linder Panorama

By Mulder, Paris, Max Linder Panorama, 13 december 2025

Our media was present in Paris as part of its on-site coverage of the Paris International Fantastic Film Festival (PIFFF) for the French premiere of The Holy Boy, held on December 13, 2025, at the iconic Max Linder Panorama, a venue whose history and atmosphere always lend an extra layer of intensity to genre screenings. Introduced in person by director Paolo Strippoli, the screening was followed by a Q&A session that quickly turned into a passionate exchange with the audience, reflecting the strong emotional and thematic impact of the film. From the first moments, the room felt unusually attentive, almost tense, as if viewers instinctively understood they were about to experience something that went beyond a standard horror screening. That sense was confirmed by the long applause at the end, and by the thoughtful, sometimes visibly shaken reactions during the discussion, where questions focused as much on the film’s moral ambiguities as on its unsettling imagery.

The Holy Boy (La valle dei sorrisi), co-written and directed by Paolo Strippoli, is a 2025 horror film that has already carved an impressive international path before reaching Paris. The film had its world premiere out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2025, before being screened at the BFI London Film Festival and later released theatrically in Italy on September 17, 2025. Shot in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, specifically in Sappada, the film uses its mountain setting not as a simple backdrop but as an active, almost oppressive presence, reinforcing the feeling of isolation and false serenity that defines its fictional village. International sales were acquired by Fandango Sales in July 2025, while Shudder secured the rights for North America, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, announcing a debut on the platform in 2026, further confirming the film’s growing reputation within contemporary genre circles.

The narrative centers on Sergio, portrayed by Michele Riondino, a physical education teacher haunted by his past who is transferred to Remis, a secluded village reputed to be the happiest town in Italy. What initially appears as a peaceful refuge gradually reveals a deeply disturbing ritual: each week, the villagers gather to embrace Matteo, a withdrawn fifteen-year-old played by first-time actor Giulio Feltri, whose touch is believed to erase pain and sorrow. As Sergio begins to understand that this devotion is anything but benevolent, his attempt to save the boy—known as the Angel of Remis—triggers the violent backlash of a community desperate to preserve its fragile illusion of happiness. During the Q&A at PIFFF, Paolo Strippoli spoke at length about this central idea, explaining that the film explores our relationship with pain, the shortcuts we take to avoid it, and the terrifying consequences of denying suffering as an essential part of being human, a theme that resonated strongly with festivalgoers.

The cast is rounded out by Paolo Pierobon and Romana Maggiora Vergano, whose performances add layers of ambiguity and emotional tension to a story that constantly oscillates between intimate drama and supernatural horror. Behind the camera, cinematographer Cristiano Di Nicola crafts a visual language that contrasts luminous exteriors with increasingly claustrophobic interiors, while editor Federico Palmerini maintains a deliberate, almost hypnotic rhythm across the film’s 122-minute running time. The score by Federico Bisozzi and Davide Tomat subtly underscores the unease, avoiding obvious horror cues in favor of a more insidious emotional pull. Produced by Laura Paolucci, Ines Vasiljević, Stefano Sardo, Domenico Procacci, Jožko Rutar, and Miha Černec, the film stands as a confident collaboration between Fandango, Nightswim, Spok Films, and Vision Distribution, with the latter also handling its Italian theatrical release.

Critically and thematically, The Holy Boy has been widely perceived as a major step in the renewal of Italian genre cinema, a point that came up repeatedly during conversations at PIFFF. By fully embracing its fantastic dimension while never losing sight of raw emotion, Paolo Strippoli delivers a work that feels both classical and daringly modern, blending social allegory, moral horror, and deeply human tragedy. This impression was reinforced by the film’s success at Fantastic Fest, where it earned both the Next Wave Best Director Award and the Audience Award, a rare combination that speaks to its ability to satisfy critics and audiences alike. As Paolo Strippoli himself stated, partnering with Shudder represents an opportunity to bring this unsettling fable to a wider and passionate audience, inviting viewers to confront the seductive idea of a pain-free existence—and the monstrous price that might come with it.

Presented at PIFFF in front of an audience already attuned to bold and challenging cinema, The Holy Boy felt perfectly at home, sparking discussions well beyond the screening room and leaving a lingering sense of unease that extended into the Paris night. More than just a festival stop, this premiere confirmed the film’s status as one of the most striking horror works of 2025 and positioned Paolo Strippoli as a key voice in the evolution of contemporary European genre filmmaking. Photos and video from the event were captured by our media for preserving a moment that many attendees will likely remember as one of the highlights of PIFFF 2025.

You can discover our photos in our Flickr page

Synopsis : 
A physical education teacher moves to a peaceful mountain village for work. He soon discovers that the apparent tranquility of the place hides a disturbing secret that threatens to turn his life and that of the inhabitants upside down.

The Holy Boy
Directed by Paolo Strippoli
Written by Jacopo Del Giudice, Paolo Strippoli, Milo Tissone
Produced by Laura Paolucci, Ines Vasiljević, Stefano Sardo, Domenico Procacci, Jožko Rutar, Miha Černec
Starring  Michele Riondino, Giulio Feltri, Paolo Pierobon, Romana Maggiora Vergano
Cinematography : Cristiano Di Nicola
Edited by Federico Palmerini
Music by Federico Bisozzi, Davide Tomat
Production companies : Fandango, Nightswim, Spok Films, Vision Distribution
Distributed by Vision Distribution
Release dates : 30 August 2025 (Venice), 17 September 2025 (Italy)
Running time : 122 minutes

Photos and Video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville