My Hot Italian Summer

What if the classic Italian summer romance was told through a queer lens?

In My Hot Italian Summer, a queer screenwriter in their early 30s (Tyga Dares) rents a house on the remote island, hoping to escape the heat and distractions and focus on their writing. But as the summer heat intensifies, so does a magnetic connection with a local woman (Beatrice Segreti). At various moments, she embodies the classic tropes of Italian cinema. Whether she’s hanging laundry in little clothing like an old film heroin, walking on the beach, or preparing food in the outdoor sun, she is always observed from the female gaze.

As the days pass, their connection deepens and turns physical, forcing the screenwriter to confront their long-hidden desires. What begins as a dreamy, cinematic fantasy evolves into a steamy encounter where the screenwriter faces the rawness of her own longing and she becomes the woman the writer only dared to desire.. My Hot Italian Summer flips familiar cinematic tropes on their head, giving agency to the woman at the center of the fantasy, sending her right into the arms of the screenwriter, rather than staying a distant object of desire.

Directed by Gianna Mazzeo, My Hot Italian Summer explores pleasure with intention and emotional depth, offering a queer-gaze, authentic portrayal of intimacy that celebrates desire and connection. The performances by Beatrice Segreti and Tyga Dares create a slow, sensual experience that honors both the landscape and the people who inhabit it. The film invites viewers into a world where the lines between fantasy and reality blur, celebrating the freedom to explore and own one’s pleasure.