Alessandro Cassigoli, Casey Kauffman — Italy — 2018 — 80'

Butterfly is the delicate story of an Italian teenager who sees her life plan collapse in eight minutes. Raised in one of Naples’ most troubled neighborhoods, Irma focuses on boxing and reaches the Olympics at just 18 years old. Her dramatic defeat there shakes the core of her identity while family tensions, economic strain, and unrealistic dreams complicate her return home. She struggles to reconnect until a new opportunity forces her to decide who she really is. This is a real-life story, but it’s irresistible protagonist and cinematic storytelling style allow Butterfly to be experienced like a fiction film.