I Wonder Pictures is expanding its already impressive distribution empire by bringing its proven audience-building expertise into the production phase — a strategic evolution that will deepen relationships with filmmakers and viewers alike.
Sources close to the company say this isn't just growth for growth's sake. With A24 and Neon as close partners, I Wonder is positioning itself as the go-to European gateway for American prestige distributors hunting arthouse hits.
Saga Film (Bucharest) is lead-producing Radu Jude's 'Call a Large Hound Near,' while principal photography wrapped in Budapest on Gábor Reisz's untitled feature 'Ember Végez' — featuring Marcello Fonte's cameo appearance. Teemu Nikki's '200 Liters of Gold' is also confirmed as the sequel to hit Finnish film '100 Liters of Gold.'
I Wonder Pictures has quietly become Italy's most reliable arthouse distributor, and now they're betting that understanding audiences from the distribution side will give them an edge in production. Time will tell if that formula translates — but with Radu Jude and Gábor Reisz on board, they're not playing it safe.
Italy's I Wonder Pictures is making a decisive move from distribution powerhouse to full-scale production player, announcing a robust slate of new projects from celebrated European auteurs including Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude, Hungarian director Gábor Reisz, and Finnish auteur Teemu Nikki. The Bologna-based company — which has quietly become one of Italy's most reliable arthouse distributors with ties to both A24 and Neon — launched its production arm All at Once last year after hiring former Sky Italy entertainment channels chief Roberto Pisoni.
The timing isn't accidental. I Wonder has built a reputation on delivering consistent box office results with challenging material, scoring hits with titles including "Everything Everywhere All at Once," "The Whale," "The Zone of Interest," "The Substance," and most recently "The Drama." Now company topper Andrea Romeo is promising to flip that equation, using audience awareness as a development tool from day one rather than an afterthought. "While the projects we are developing are very different from one another, they share a high level of craftsmanship and a unique perspective on contemporary Europe," noted Pisoni, who is also developing Italian projects alongside the international slate.
The first major project breaking from this new strategy is Radu Jude's "Call a Large Hound Near" (working title), an exploration of sociopolitical tensions in Europe being lead-produced by Bucharest-based Saga Film with All at Once boarding as co-producer. The Romanian filmmaker previously caused waves with "Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn," and this new project suggests he's continuing his provocative examination of European society. Meanwhile, Gábor Reisz's untitled feature — currently going by the working title "Ember Végez" — has wrapped principal photography in Budapest, featuring a cameo from Italy's Marcello Fonte, who won the 2018 Cannes Best Actor prize for his role in Matteo Garrone's "Dogman." The film is co-written with regular collaborator Éva Schulze and produced by All at Once in collaboration with Budapest-based Proton Cinema; Reisz previously won the 2023 Orizzonti Award for Best Film at Venice with "Explanation for Everything," which I Wonder distributed in Italy.
Rounding out the initial production slate, All at Once is also moving forward with "200 Liters of Gold" from Finnish director Teemu Nikki and producer Jani Pösö — a sequel to their hit film "100 Liters of Gold." Set in the rural town of Sysmä, the follow-up follows sisters Pirkko and Taina as they navigate illness, family rivalries, and local brewing competitions. It's a genre-bending proposition that fits neatly into I Wonder's track record of backing unconventional material with crossover potential.
