A short narrative film inspired by the extraordinary true story of Italian endurance runner Mauro Prosperi.

In 1994, Mauro Prosperi entered the Marathon des Sables, one of the world's most demanding endurance races, crossing hundreds of kilometers of the Sahara Desert.

During a violent sandstorm, Mauro became separated from the race and disappeared into the desert.

LOST explores one chapter of those days a moment suspended between survival and surrender. Rather than attempting to tell the entire story of Mauro's ordeal, the film immerses the audience in the psychological and physical experience of being lost: the isolation, hallucination, exhaustion, instinct, and relentless fight to keep moving when there is seemingly nowhere to go.

At its heart, LOST is a story about the human instinct to survive.

The film stars Marco Bocci as Mauro Prosperi and is directed by Nicola Ciccarelli, with cinematography by Josh Makela. The project is produced by Maua Media, Alessio Giurgola, Mauro Prosperi, and Rebecca Morandi.

Shot across the dramatic landscapes of Sicily the film creates a visceral interpretation of the Sahara through a combination of practical locations, controlled environments, and cinematic visual effects. The visual language is raw and tactile, embracing 35mm-inspired texture, anamorphic photography, natural elements, and a restrained, atmospheric color palette.

LOST is also conceived as more than a standalone short film. It serves as a proof of concept for a feature film, with the ambition of expanding Mauro's extraordinary story into a larger cinematic narrative.

The project brings together Mauro Prosperi's firsthand experience, the filmmakers' creative interpretation, and a team of established artists and collaborators to create a film that feels intimate, physical, and uncompromising.