IFF25 The Negotiator

Inspired by real events, The Negotiator is a dramatic spy thriller starring Claudio Santamaria and Sonia Bergamasco that delivers a profound reflection on the meaning of heroism and sacrifice, exploring power relations that remain powerfully resonant 20 years on. The Negotiator follows the twenty-eight days leading up to the tragic events of March 4, 2005, when SISMI senior military intelligence officer Nicola Calipari (Santamaria) sacrificed his life in Baghdad during an operation to free the journalist Giuliana Sgrena of “il manifesto”, who had been kidnapped by terrorists in Iraq. As SISMI’s deputy director of operations and head of ops in Iraq in the early 2000s, Calipari played a crucial role in operations in Iraq, safeguarding human life and keeping the peace. A production made possible by the Calipari family, who approved the screenplay and participated in filming, and supported by the National Security Authority of the Prime Minister’s Office during development, The Negotiator pays tribute to his memory and the sacrifice that earned Calipari the Gold Medal for Military Valour.