At MIA 2024, Business Doc Europe caught up with Andrea Cini, writer of The First Time, a sports feature doc chronicling Napoli FC’s epic journey from underdog to footballing powerhouse, made possible by the arrival of Diego Armando Maradona in 1984. The project is pitched in the event’s Italians Doc It Better showcase.
“Maradona’s presence transformed Napoli, and over the next few years, the team built itself into a force capable of competing with the giants of the north, culminating in their historic first Scudetto [Italian football league title] in 1987,” Cini tells BDE.
The First Time showcases the team’s extraordinary rise during a golden age of Serie A [the first division of Italian football], offering an intimate portrait through testimonials from star players and exclusive archival footage. The film pays tribute to Napoli and Maradona, whose recent passing cemented his legendary status worldwide.
Cini is writing the doc with Andrea Bosello, who is also at the helm of the feature. Bosello kicked off his career in London in 2001, working as a script analyst for Future Film Group, a film production company. In 2005, he returned to Italy as supervisor of Lux Vide’s TV productions, and in 2008, he became Executive Producer for Fox Channel Italy’s factual channels, extending his responsibilities to the entertainment channels in 2014. From 2019 to 2020, he worked as Research & Development Executive for The Walt Disney Company. He is now a freelance producer and director.
Since 2017, he’s been supervising all scripted and factual productions for Fox Network Group. “The First Time aims to tell a story that transcends the realm of sports. It’s not just about Napoli’s first Scudetto [literally, the ‘little shield,’ which honours the Serie A winning team] or the arrival of Maradona, but a deeper exploration of the cultural and emotional impact of that achievement,” Bosello explains in his director’s notes.
“Through exclusive interviews and Maradona’s personal archival footage, this documentary reconstructs the narrative of a feat that went beyond the football field—a story of identity, pride, and redemption for an entire city. This is a tale that has never been told in such depth before, offering a fresh perspective on one of the most iconic eras in football history.”
The pic, budgeted at €2 million, is being produced by Filmauro, one of Italy’s key players in production and distribution, founded in 1975 by Luigi De Laurentiis. The outfit’s catalogue includes over 400 titles. Interestingly, it also owns several movie theatres in Rome and two football clubs—Bari (now playing in Serie B, Italy’s second division) and the aforementioned Napoli.
The project, now in post-production, is slated for release in 2027, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Napoli’s first Scudetto.
At MIA, the team is seeking international distributors. “The aim of The First Time is to allow those who didn’t experience Napoli’s first league win to relive it, showing them from an entirely new perspective what this triumph meant for the city,” adds Cini.
“At the same time, we want to revive the memories of those who were there, reminding them of the extraordinary emotions of that achievement. Our expectation at MIA is to connect with partners who are able to recognise the global significance of this story, ensuring it reaches audiences worldwide and captures the unique blend of sport, culture, and emotion that made this moment in football history unforgettable.”
