The docufilm “The Basketball Dreamâ€, produced by Red Private in collaboration with RAI and releasing in theaters on March 16, 2026, tells the story of Marco Belinelli, the first Italian NBA champion. Yet the film goes beyond sports: it explores the human essence behind the athlete, showing how passion, discipline, and resilience transformed an ordinary boy into an extraordinary champion.
For nearly thirteen years, Belinelli lived in a world where sharing one’s story was part of being a professional, but the documentary captures his natural reserve, allowing viewers to step into his private life and most intimate memories—right back to his bedroom in San Giovanni in Persiceto, where he watched VHS tapes of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.
The film stands out for its balance between on-court action footage and personal testimony. Voices such as Baron Davis, Andrea Bargnani, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and coach Marco Sanguettoli enrich the narrative, creating a unique experience even for those not deeply interested in basketball.
The documentary celebrates Belinelli’s human and sports journey: from his early successes in Italy with Virtus Bologna, to winning his first Italian championship at 21, the NBA Draft, games with Team USA, challenges in Golden State, Toronto, and San Antonio, culminating in winning the three-point contest and the NBA title. But the heart of the film also focuses on life off the court: Belinelli shares his dream of becoming “a great husband and father,†highlighting that achieving great goals doesn’t mean losing your human essence.
“The Basketball Dream†is more than a basketball docufilm; it’s a universal story of resilience, dreams, and passion, resonating with anyone—athlete or not—and showing how it’s possible to achieve excellence without sacrificing who you are.