Author's column by Italian journalist Debora Scalzo
Debora Scalzo is the founder of Desca Production, an Italian film production and distribution company. Born in Asti, with Sicilian roots and Milanese by adoption, she is a multifaceted artistknown for her work in literature, music, screenwriting, and film directing. She is the author of several award-winning novels such as “Io resto così” (I Stay Like This), “Fuoco Freddo” (Cold Fire), “Cuore Marchiato” (Branded Heart), and “Un dolore da difendere” (A Pain to Protect), all of which explore significant social issues including psychological abuse, prostitution, fallen officers, and suicides among law enforcement personnel.Her contributions to literature have earned her numerous prestigious international awards. Among them, she received the Apoxiomeno Award at the International Police Awards Festival inthe Literature category—a highly regarded international recognition, previously awarded to Oscar winners such as Colin Firth and Helen Mirren. This prize is dedicated to the police forces, highlighting the author’s commitment to honoring and telling their stories. In addition to her literary career, she is deeply engaged in social issues, particularly in the fight for women’s rights. She founded the cultural initiative “Parent Love”, supporting the “Casa diPaolo” project in memory of Judge Paolo Borsellino. She is also the Artistic Director of the Juliet Art Academy in Verona, as well as creative writing and film in Italian schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Merit.She works as a Literary Agent and is the Director of the "Pagine di Cinema" series for the Santelli Group. Her passion for cinema extends to her roles as International Film Distribution Manager at Underground Distribution and Head of Production at Santelli Pictures. She is currently distributing the docufilm “Paolo Vive” (Paolo Lives), dedicated to Judge Paolo Borsellino, through an international network in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of ForeignAffairs and International Cooperation, Italian embassies, and cultural institutes worldwide. She is also producing the anti-mafia film “Beyond the Uniform”, dedicated to the Carabinieri military police force. Among her upcoming projects, she is set to direct a major film about the G8 Bolzaneto barracks events, which will be produced and shot between Genoa and Tuscany in 2026, with a release scheduled for 2027. Author of the successful "Made in Italy" column featured in the prestigious American magazine "My New York Magazine".
