Rafaela Prifti: “Pinocchio’s Harvard” by Tertini Set to Make a Global Slice
Pinocchio’s Pizza is the star of a new documentary by acclaimed Albanian-American filmmaker, Valmir Tertini. Long before achieving stardom, tech pioneers and future Oscar winners like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, frequented this tiny pizzeria. Last year, an Albanian-American filmmaker brought cameras inside to capture this unique intersection of Harvard life and American pop culture. “Pinocchio’s Harvard”, Tertini’s newest observational documentary won Best Director & Best Short Documentary at CVV Film Festival held alongside the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, La Biennale di Venezia 2026, in Italy. Tertini will walk the Italian red carpet to accept the awards at the ceremony on September 12th.
From the opening shot of the 20-minute documentary, Tertini reveals its secret sauce by following the owner as he arrives early in the morning to prepare it from scratch in the kitchen. The story of this street-side, Italian family-owned pizzeria in Harvard Square began in the 1960s. Since the 1980s, the DiCensos, another family of Italian descent took ownership but preserved the original name. Pinocchio’s Pizza draws a steady stream of regulars and tourists alike, all captivated by its thick Sicilian-style crust and iconic cultural status. Framing the pizza counter, a photo gallery display features snapshots of high-profile patrons like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and others. As seen in the documentary, the pictures serve as reliable conversation starters for first-time visitors and even some playful teasers with MIT associates. Included in the short documentary are cameos of aspiring influencers filming taste tests on their phones.
Valmir Tertini seeks out the human story in his filmmaking. For fifteen years, he has dedicated his lens to documenting the complex layers of Eastern European identity. He has an eye for the quiet or what he calls “the stories left behind”. In this case, it is the unassuming spot on the Harvard campus that has long been a celebrated destination boasting a steady clientele, a loyal student following and late-night crowds. By expanding its reach beyond Cambridge through Tertini’s film, this beloved institution is set to share its charm with a global audience.
