Idda climbs Etna and enters TIFF Platform race

Italian drama Idda has made its world premiere in the Platform competition at the Toronto International Film Festival, according to Variety.

The film is directed by Irene Dionisio. It stars Tecla Insolia and Romana Maggiora Vergano, who play childhood friends Adele and Sofia.

The story follows the pair as they decide to climb Mount Etna together. Sofia, played by Vergano, works as a children's dance teacher. The climb becomes a portrait of a long friendship under strain.

The title carries its own clue. In Sicilian dialect, “idda” means “she”, and it is used to refer to Mount Etna. The mountain is an active volcano on the eastern coast of Sicily, according to Variety.

Dionisio co-wrote the film with Marco Borromei. It is her second feature. Born in Torino, Italy, Dionisio studied philosophy of history and aesthetics at the University of Turin, according to TIFF.

The Platform slot puts Idda in a focused race. TIFF expanded its Platform lineup and jury for 2026, according to Deadline. The programme is a competitive section for distinctive work from around the world.

There is an added incentive this year. The non-English-language winner of the Platform competition will be directly eligible for consideration for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, according to Variety. That category honours feature films made outside the United States with mainly non-English dialogue.

Behind the camera, Idda was produced by Kino Produzioni, EDI Effetti Digitali Italiani, Andromeda Film and Wise Pictures. Rai Cinema International Distribution is handling international sales, the business of selling screening rights to buyers in other countries.

What makes this stand out is the scale. Two people. One volcano. A friendship with nowhere to hide.