When brilliant scientists suddenly find themselves out of work, all that remains is creativity – or chaos. A young team of researchers is laid off after budget cuts at the university and desperately searches for a way out. Their solution: a designer drug they developed themselves, which is still legal and quickly makes them stars of the party scene. But fame and fortune soon lead to moral and personal abysses. In I CAN QUIT WHENEVER I WANT, director Sydney Sibilia combines biting social satire with fast-paced humor and precise characterization. Inspired by the economic crisis in Italy, the film paints a portrait of a lost generation of academics who turn intelligence into a survival strategy. Thanks to its energetic staging, clever dialogue, and charismatic cast—including Edoardo Leo, Valeria Solarino, and Stefano Fresi—the film became one of the biggest surprise hits in Italian cinema. The film premiered at the 2013 Rome Film Festival, where it was enthusiastically received by audiences. It won several awards at international festivals and received the Ciak d'Oro 2014 for Best Directorial Debut. Sibilia thus established himself as one of Italy's most innovative young directors. The success led to two sequels and a TV adaptation – proof of the enduring popularity of this clever, fast-paced comedy.



