
Lorenzo Scibilia is a 21-year-old filmmaker who can’t help but tell stories, in every way he finds compelling. Cinema, at the moment, is the most seductive medium for him. Now in the production of his sixth short film, he is promoting his latest work: I Know You Well. Shot between the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, it is an experiment that explores mystery, psychology, and meta-cinema. Produced by Nymphéa Production and producers Antonella Di Nardo, Michael Moscatelli e Lorenzo Scibilia, written and directed by Lorenzo Scibilia, starring Susanna Morello as the protagonist, the short film is available to watch for free on the streaming platform MyMovies from December 31 to January 3, as part of the selection of the 30th Capri, Hollywood Film Festival.

(EXCLUSIVE) INTERVIEW
How did the idea for this story come about?
At night. I often find inspiration in the moments when I should be dreaming, and it often comes through talking to someone, chatting online. Human contact, even virtual, as well as prolonged solitude, can create a kind of frequency that connects with an idea I then decide to pursue. It was almost Christmas, I was alone in the room where I live in Milan, and my mother had been asking me for days to shoot something set in our home, which she decorates like a Christmas village every year. So I put together these ideas, some images, and an object I had always ignored, and this experiment was born.
So, a traditional Christmas object becomes a co-protagonist…
Exactly. The advent calendar has always symbolized surprise and joy, as well as a very precise way of marking time. I’m fascinated by the idea of subverting the use of objects, something that also happens in my next short film, and in I Know You Well, I was struck by the idea of turning surprise into something that creates discomfort, worry, and paranoia. The drawers of an advent calendar are perfect for setting a rhythm in a film, especially in a short one: they allow you to jump through time without confusing the viewer.

Regarding the characters, Susanna is the protagonist, but we also hear other voices, in addition to the presence of the calendar.
Yes, they are fundamental voices that represent the connection with reality, allowing Susanna to confront what is happening to her. They are performed by Antonella Di Nardo, one of the producers with Michael Moscatelli (Character: Susanna’s mother), and Andrea Maddalena Bernardi (Character: Susanna’s best friend). The voice we hear at a certain point in the short, you will hear, is by Davide Schio. All three were essential in giving even more depth to the story, and they are incredibly talented, I’m very grateful to them for taking part. I should also mention that I made a small cameo myself, voicing the ex-boyfriend in the story.

This is Susanna’s third project as a lead actress, all three with Lorenzo. What challenges did you face in playing the only visible character in a story with four characters?
To be honest, being the only visible character in the short didn’t feel particularly difficult. Being alone on set or having someone physically there is different, of course, but that doesn’t necessarily increase or reduce the complexity of the performance. The real challenge was interacting with characters who weren’t physically present, talking on the phone without a script. Lorenzo would explain roughly what the scene needed to convey, and I would improvise. I imagined conversations, guessed the pauses where the other person might respond to lines that hadn’t been written yet. It really pushed me to take risks, but that’s always the case when working with Lorenzo. He gives me general directions and the freedom to express myself however I feel is right, and if something doesn’t work, we try again.
In this short film, music is an integral part of the storytelling, almost giving voice to the images and becoming one with them.
I am grateful to Filippo Signorini, who composed all the music for this film, and who collaborated with Gaia Gorla Neggia known as Ansia, a dear friend and a talented singer, who lent her voice. I had a very specific musical world in mind, and by talking with Filippo, a true professional and a great talent, we managed to find the right balance between instruments and voices. My request was to use Ansia’s voice as if it were a musical instrument, not as a speaking human voice, but as breath. I believe Filippo, Ansia, and I truly succeeded. I say this with pride, because every time I reach the end of the short and hear the final piece of music, I can’t help but feel moved.

And finally, who is the person who Knows Susanna Well?
(Smiles.) The answer can be found by watching the short carefully until the very last second. It’s right there, but many people only catch it after three or four viewings. Susanna’s real mother, not the character, sent a message in their family group months after the first screening. After watching it again, she came to a realization that perfectly solved the mystery. I was surprised and genuinely happy: it means it’s not as hard to understand as some people have said. You can watch I Know You Well from December 31 to January 3 in free streaming on MyMovies by reserving your seat in the virtual cinema.










