Waking hours, the debut documentary by federico Cammarata and Filippo Foscarini, is set to premiere on Thursday, September 4, at the Venice Critics’ Week, an self-reliant event within the Venice Film Festival.

The film, produced by Rome-based Volos Films Italia in collaboration with Roberto Minervini’s cosma Film and Rai Cinema, delves into the world of afghan people smugglers operating near the European Union border, facilitating illegal crossings between Serbia and Hungary.

A synopsis describes the smugglers as “awaiting those to be carried across the border, wandering through the labyrinth of a sleepless, perpetual night.” It continues, “At the edge of the forest, shadowy human figures gather around the fire, while the distant echo of gunshots reverberates through the night. Not far away, a wall of sharp metal marks the beginning of Europe.”

Cammarata and Foscarini shared their vision for the documentary: “Waking Hours emerges from the depths of the forest, not as a backdrop but as a living body – a place of disorientation, transformation, and fragile refuge.Along the Balkan route, cinema vérité and theater merge in a poetic counter-investigation that reveals without fully showing, creating space for listening. The forest is our boat; cinema, our passage.”

Stefano Centini of Volos Films Italia, stated: “We first met the project at Bellaria Film Festival, where the directors pitched it during [an] (In) Emergency [section session].It became clear that Waking Hours offers not only a unique look into a world we rarely see from an insider perspective, but also a daring work from two upcoming directors who chose to confront this topic with the necessary formal research and visual approach.”

Centini added, “They are digging out a personal perspective which encompasses the mere ‘function’ of the characters and highlights something more universal about the human condition.We are excited to present this bold film.”

First Look at ‘Waking Hours’

“Waking Hours emerges from the depths of the forest, not as a backdrop but as a living body – a place of disorientation, transformation, and fragile refuge.”

A teaser for Waking Hours has been released ahead of its debut at Venice Critics’ Week, which runs through September 6 as part of the 82nd Venice international Film Festival. The clip features imagery of darkness and fire, posing the question: “How did it feel to cross the border?”

tommaso Priante of Luminalia, said, “I know it’s frequently enough said, but this film truly is unique – not only in the content it is indeed showing, but in how it is shown. Waking Hours offers a perspective on migration that hasn’t been seen before. Having worked for a year in a refugee center in Italy, I drew on that experience in creating Luminalia. Bringing films like Waking Hours to audiences means confronting stereotypes and encouraging us to reflect on, and even question, the notions of ‘us’ and ‘them’.’

Watch the first teaser for Waking Hours below.