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The Man Who Stole Banksy

Fall Grants 2017 - Post-Production Stage

Synopsis

In 2007, anonymous street artist and activist Banksy painted a number of politically divisive artworks in Palestine. Some local residents viewed one piece in particular as an insult as they believed it portrayed them in a culturally insensitive way. Others hailed it as high art and flocked to see it. One saw a business opportunity. Local taxi driver known as ‘Walid the Beast’ decided to cut out the entire cement wall containing the art and sell it to the highest bidder online.

A DFI granted film ‘The Man Who Sold Banksy’ is narrated by Iggy Pop and follows the artwork as it makes its journey from the Middle East to the auction houses of Western Europe. It brings the viewer into the shadowy underworld of a secret art market filled with stolen street art removed from walls around the world. Director Marco Proserpio’s provocative feature debut is a high-energy examination of public space, appropriation, and the commodification of street art that asks what happens when political art meets the dark side of capitalism?

Credits

Director

Marco Proserpio

Screenwriter

Marco Proserpio, Filippo Perfido, Christian Omodeo

Producer

Marco Proserpio, Filippo Perfido

About the Director

Marco Proserpio has been involved in film, television and advertising since the age of 20, when he started working at MTV Italia. Soon after leaving MTV he started directing for television, short films and commercials. His corporate clients include Pirelli, Campari, Jeep, Diesel, Sony. In November 2016, Proserpio directed the film 'The Story Of Our Guardians' produced by Balich Worldwide Shows.

Contacts

• Main Contact

  Marco Proserpio

  Company: 

  Sterven Pictures

  Phone: 

  +39 3404 1055 43

  Email: 

  stervenpictures@gmail.com

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