La Truffa (The Scam), directed by Matteo Stipa and Michele Marchionne
One phone call, a fake grandson, two scammers.
On a scorching summer day, 80-year-old Mirella gets a call from a grandson in trouble, but on the other end of the line are two clumsy, small-time scammers.
Directed byMatteo Stipa,Michele MarchionneComedy9'16"Italy 2025
Synopsis
Eighty-year-old Mirella takes a call from her grandson Michele: he is in trouble and needs money. On the other end are not Michele but Frappa and Tommy, two scammers waiting outside her house, bickering constantly.
Upcoming screenings
6-8 November 2026
Crew Film Festival
Rome
9 November 2026, 4 pm
Marano Ragazzi Spot Festival
International Youth Contest - Sez. Filmmakers
Marano di Napoli, Auditorium Giancarlo Siani
15-21 November 2026
Foggia Film Festival
Foggia
16-22 November 2026
Visioni Italiane
Bologna
17 November 2026
SorsiCorti
Palermo
Directors
Matteo StipaA graduate in Directing and Screenwriting from the Griffith Academy of Cinema and Television, he has worked on many short films as assistant director, script supervisor and screenwriter.
Michele MarchionneA graduate in Performing Arts, with a diploma in production from the Griffith Academy, he has produced several independent short films.
Stills
Selections and awards
Awards9
Corto Fiction Chianciano Terme
Comedy Theme Award
Chianciano Terme · 22 August 2026
Corto di sera
Jury Award
Itala · 13 August 2026
Aquicorto
Audience Award
L'Aquila · 31 July 2026
Vitorchiano Film Festival
Best Director, Best Screenplay, Critics' Award
Vitorchiano · 26 July 2026
Pop Corn Festival del Corto
Best Soundtrack
Porto Santo Stefano · 2026
BCT - Festival Nazionale del Cinema e della Televisione
BCT School Award (student jury)
Benevento · 14 July 2026
World premiere
Festival della Commedia - Pulcinella FilmFest
Maschera d'Oro for Best Actor, awarded to Francesco De Simone
Acerra · 13 December 2025
Official selections18 · 2026
- Viterbo Short Film FestivalViterbo
- Pigneto Film Festival - EuroShortsRome
- Picentia Short Film FestivalBattipaglia
- Aprilia Film FestAprilia
- Villamare Festival Film&FriendsVillammare
- Videocorto NettunoNettuno
- Festival Mario Puzo - Corto e a capoVenticano
- Lucania Film FestivalPisticci
- Accussì - Festival per gli occhiGiampilieri
- Film Festival Pino ScicoloneCefalù
- FMK International Short Film FestivalPordenone
- Marateale - Premio Internazionale BasilicataMaratea
- Ischia Global Film FestivalIschia
- Corto in CorteClusone
- Written by Script & Film FestivalRome
- Officine Social MovieArezzo
- Festival Internazionale Corti da Sogni Antonio RicciRavenna
- Marte Film FestivalRome
Credits
- Title
- La Truffa
- International title
- The Scam
- Year
- 2025
- Country
- Italy
- Running time
- 9'16"
- Language
- Italian
- Subtitles
- Italian, English
- Genre
- Comedy
- Format
- 2.39:1
- Mirella
- Sissi Scidone
- Frappa
- Francesco De Simone
- Tommy
- Daniel Salzano
- Director
- Matteo Stipa
Michele Marchionne - Screenplay
- Michele Marchionne
Matteo Stipa
Sofia Arciero - Production
- INTHELFILM
in association with Bucoschi Production - Distribution
- PunxFilm
- Cinematography
- Simone Oneto
- Editing
- Aurora Baù
- Colorist
- Giacomo Checchin
- VFX
- Francesco Fantauzzi
- Production design
- Gaia Manzo
- Costume design
- Sara Scarponi
- Makeup
- Federica Pazzaglia
- Sound recording
- Gabriele Costabile
- Sound editing
- Edoardo Ferdinandi
- Original music
- Edoardo Ferdinandi
For festivals and professionals
The screener
For festivals, programmers and buyers: request the screener at distribution@punxfilm.com and we will send it as a password-protected link.
Request the screenerScreening specs
- Running time
- 9'16"
- Shot on
- ARRIRAW 3.4K Open Gate, anamorphic
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39:1
- Sound
- 5.1
- Language
- Italian
- Subtitles
- Italian, English
Credit line
La Truffa (international title: The Scam), comedy, Italy 2025, 9'16". Directed by Matteo Stipa and Michele Marchionne. Produced by INTHELFILM in association with Bucoschi Production. Distribution: PunxFilm.
