16 April = free entrance with a valid TAD wristband (as long as seats are available)
NL | 2026 |102′ | documentary
Synopsis:
It’s a rare person who would give up fame and fortune to toil in obscurity for someone else’s creative vision. Yet, that’s exactly what Leon Vitali did after his acclaimed performance as ‘Lord Bullingdon’ in Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon. The young actor surrendered his thriving career to become Kubrick’s loyal right-hand man. For more than two decades, Leon played a crucial role behind-the-scenes helping Kubrick make and maintain his legendary body of work.
In Filmworker, Leon’s candid, often funny, sometimes shocking experiences in the company of Kubrick are woven together with rich and varied elements including previously unseen photos, videos, letters, notebooks and memos from Leon’s private collection. Insightful, emotionally charged anecdotes from actors, family, crew members, and key film industry professionals who worked with Kubrick and Leon add an important layer of detail and impact to the story. Filmworker enters the world of Leon Vitali and Stanley Kubrick from a unique perspective that highlights the nitty-gritty of the creative process. By experiencing Leon’s journey we come to understand how the mundane gives rise to the magnificent as timeless filmmaking is brought to life at its most practical and profound level.
This documentary will be introduced by director Tony Zierra. Tony Zierra has always been fascinated by the power of storytelling and cinema. He is known for his documentaries Carving Out Our Name, USA The Movie and My Big Break.
Filmworker premiered at The Cannes Film Festival in 2017 and was nominated for the L’Œil d’or. It screened at major festivals world-wide before playing in many theatres and on television in the U.S. and internationally. During PIFF we will premiere the 2026 updated director’s cut.
Zierra’s most recent project, SK13:Kubrick’s Endgame explores Stanley Kubrick’s unparalleled body of work with a special emphasis on his final film, Eyes Wide Shut.
CREDITS:
Director: Tony Zierra
Producer: Tony Zierra
Producer: Elizabeth Yoffe
Editor: Tony Zierra
Original Music: Luke Jennings and David Ben Shannon
Featuring:
Leon Vitali
Ryan O’Neal
Stanley Kubrick
Matthew Modine
R.Lee Ermey
Danny Lloyd
Stellan Skarsgård
Marie Richardson
