Burial Patrol

In a future where the dead rise, a Burial Patrol officer kills a living man and uncovers corruption.

In 2054, a Burial Patrol officer kills a living man in a world where the dead rise and burials are banned. His cover-up leads to a dark conspiracy, personal tragedy, and a relentless quest for justice in a corrupt regime where nothing stays buried.

Main production country: Italy

Director's note

"Burial Patrol" embraces the language of classic cinema: cross-cut editing, traditional framing, and a clean, elegant style. The goal is to achieve narrative fluidity without sacrificing the dynamism of events, through carefully designed camera movements that accompany the story.
Shot in summer, the film will feature a bright, sunlit visual tone, with wide rural landscapes alternating with nocturnal scenes set in enclosed, sterile spaces. In both cases, a persistent sense of claustrophobia prevails: even open horizons convey oppression, as if every possibility of escape were merely an illusion.
The world of "Burial Patrol" is depopulated, in decline, and marked by abandonment. Its palette shifts between warm, evocative tones and cold, mysterious hues, reflecting the tension between what remains of humanity and the looming shadow of collapse. Simple landscapes – neither derelict nor luxurious – are filled with objects from different eras, contributing to the film's unique visual aesthetic. The costumes, humble yet dignified, contrast with the authoritarian uniforms of the enforcers.
The soundtrack, blending diegetic and instrumental music with electronic elements, drives the narrative towards tension, suspense, and drama. The intention is to craft a thriller with noir undertones – yet in broad daylight.

Producer's note

"Burial Patrol" is in early development, supported by a solid screenplay and a clear production strategy. Selected for the European Genre Forum (EGF) – organised by Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, Imagine Fantastic Film Festival, and Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival – the project benefits from a prestigious European framework connecting emerging genre filmmakers and aligning development with international standards.
Developed over several years, the film has reached narrative maturity and is being produced in English to expand its international reach. A collaboration with casting director Manuel Puro (Moon, Hellboy II, Mute) is underway to define casting strategies aligned with pre-sales and equity participation.
Filming will take place mainly in Apulia, with additional days in Piedmont, combining regional incentives and leveraging Cinefonie's production infrastructure. The €2.5M budget covers six weeks of shooting, structured as a European co-production with partners in the UK (approx. 20%) and a third minority country (approx. 10%), with interest from Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
The financing plan includes public funds, pre-sales, and equity-based gap financing. A teaser/proof of concept will premiere at the Marché du Film – Cannes, launching fundraising in 2026 and aiming for production in summer 2026 or early 2027.
With its strong creative foundation and strategic European setup, "Burial Patrol" is poised for an ambitious international launch.

Screenwiter's note

"Burial Patrol" was born in 2016, when zombie films were returning to the big screen. The idea came to me during a moment of personal crisis – like a revelation. Beyond the opening scene, nothing else had been planned: the story unfolded on its own, as if the pieces of a puzzle were falling into place before my eyes. That's why I consider it a revealed film, not a written one.
Set aside for years, it resurfaced in my mind during the pandemic. I was struck by how the screenplay had anticipated events and dynamics that would later become real. Reading it again, its true themes became clear to me: the need for justice and the defence of memory.
In the world of "Burial Patrol," tyranny not only erases historical memory but also destroys personal remembrance, severing the bond with those who came before and leaving space for an eternal present ruled by power. Camillo Falcone, though part of the institutions, rebels against this mechanism and restores a fragment of humanity.
"Burial Patrol" is an invitation not to forget our dead nor our history – a warning against those who seek to break the bonds of memory to achieve submission. Sic Semper Tyrannis – thus always to the tyrant.

Subjects:

revenge