Gruppo Alcuni Short Spotlights Rare Disease

Italy’s Gruppo Alcuni has completed A Rare Friend, a live-action/CGI short in the Leo da Vinci series that raises awareness of Fabry Disease.

A co-production with Rai Ragazzi and Cosmos-Maya, the special centers on 21st-century teenager Fabrizio, who suffers from the rare genetic condition and whose greatest wish is to meet Leonardo da Vinci. In his dreams, he travels back to 15th-century Florence as an animated character that gets to know Leo and friends in Verrocchio’s workshop.

Along with setting off on exciting adventures with his new friends, Fabrizio becomes the driving force behind the outstart of rare disease medical research. Returning to the 21st century, he finds a souvenir on his desk from Leo da Vinci, which gives him new hope and the confidence to get through his day-to-day challenges with Fabry Disease.

A Rare Friend was commissioned by the Italian Anderson-Fabry Association and Network for Rare Hereditary Metabolic Disorders.