Matteo Garrone

Matteo Garrone was born in Rome in 1968, the son of a theatre critic and a photographer. His career in filmmaking began with a win in 1996, securing the Sacher d’Oro award sponsored by Nanni Moretti for his short film “Silhouette.” This short film later formed one of three episodes in his debut feature, “Land in Between” (1996).

Throughout his career, Garrone has achieved significant recognition. His film “Gomorrah” (2008) earned him the European Film Award for Best Director and the David di Donatello for Best Director and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language. He continued his success at the Cannes Film Festival, where “Reality” (2012) won the Grand Prix. Other notable films selected to compete for the Palme d’Or include “Tale of Tales” (2015) and “Dogman” (2018). “Dogman” also received the Nastro d’Argento for both Best Producer and Best Director, an award he received again for “Pinocchio” (2019).

In 2019, Garrone was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His film “Io capitano” (2023) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in 2024, representing Italy, and also earned him the Silver Lion for Best Director at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. He has directed various short films and feature films, often collaborating with a consistent team of filmmakers and frequently casting non-professional actors in his productions.