One film seized the night in Rome and left little doubt about this year’s center of gravity in Italian cinema.

Francesco Sossai’s comedy-drama The Last One for the Road swept the 71st David di Donatello Awards on Wednesday at Cinecittà studios, collecting eight wins, including Best Film and Best Director. The result gave the ceremony a clear narrative early: this was not a split-vote awards night, but a decisive embrace of a single title that blended warmth, momentum and critical strength.

The David di Donatello ceremony did not merely reward The Last One for the Road; it positioned the film as the defining Italian winner of the moment.

The road movie arrived at the awards with strong festival credentials after premiering in Un Certain Regard at Cannes in 2025. That trajectory matters. Festival launches often introduce a film to international buyers and critics, but major national awards test something different: whether a movie can convert acclaim into broad industry backing at home. On Wednesday, Sossai’s film did exactly that.

Reports indicate the film stars Sergio Romano and Pierpaolo, underscoring an ensemble at the center of a feel-good story that clearly resonated with voters. The scale of the victory suggests support across multiple branches of the academy, not just in top-line categories. When a film wins both Best Film and Best Director and keeps adding trophies, it signals a rare alignment between artistic recognition and overall industry enthusiasm.

Key Facts

  • The Last One for the Road won eight awards at the 71st David di Donatello Awards.
  • Francesco Sossai took Best Director, and the film won Best Film.
  • The ceremony took place at Rome’s Cinecittà studios on Wednesday.
  • The movie premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes in 2025.

What happens next reaches beyond one trophy haul. A sweep like this can sharpen a film’s international profile, extend its theatrical and streaming life, and strengthen the standing of the people behind it. For Italian cinema, the result also sends a broader message: a crowd-pleasing, emotionally direct road movie can still command the industry’s highest honors when awards season often favors colder calculations.