Italian Star System

Director and screenwriter Paolo Sorrentino was born in Naples in 1970, and and became an orphan when he lost both of his parents at the age of 16. At the age of 25, after studying for a few years at the Faculty of Economics and Business in University of Naples Federico II, he decided to work in the film industry. His first full-length feature L'uomo in più, starring Toni Servillo and Andrea Renzi, was selected at the 2001 Venice Film Festival, achieved three nominations for the David di Donatello (the Italian Academy Awards) and won the Nastro d'Argento (the Italian cinema journalists Academy Award) for Best First Time Director. In 2004 he directed Le conseguenze dell'amore, selected in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival and acclaimed by both Italian and International critics. The film won many important Italian awards, including five David di Donatello awards: for Best Film, Director, Screenplay, Actor and Cinematography. Three years later his third film L'amico di famiglia was also selected in Competition at Cannes. In 2008 another collaboration with Toni Servillo, Il Divo, became his third film to be selected in Competition at Cannes. The film was nominated for Best Make-Up at the Academy Awards® and won seven David di Donatello, five Ciak d'Oro and five Nastri d'Argento awards. He has also published a novel Hanno tutti ragione (Everybody's Right) in 2010, and two collections of short stories: Tony Pagoda e i suoi amici (2012), and Gli aspetti irrilevanti (2016). Hanno tutti region was warmly received by both critics and public and was short-listed for the Premio Strega, the most prestigious Italian literature award. As of 2021, seven of his 9 films have been presented in Competition at the Festival de Cannes, where Il Divo won the Prix du Jury in 2008. In 2014, his film La Grande Bellezza won the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, as well as a BAFTA and five EFA Awards. In 2016, La Giovinezza gained an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song and two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song. The film won three European Film Awards. In 2016, he made his first TV Series: The Young Pope. In 2021, È stata la mano di Dio won the Grand Jury Prize at the 78th Venice International Film Festival.

Marco Bellocchio is one of the most consistent and most adventurous of today's Italian directors-an achievement all the more remarkable given that he made his feature debut almost fifty years ago. Over those years, he has amassed a body of films that encompasses a large number of original screenplays, adaptations of the likes of Pirandello and Kleist and personal, quasi-autobiographical work. What unifies these films is the beauty and originality of Bellocchio's images and his unceasing quest to understand the place of the individual in contemporary Italy and contemporary cinema. After making a few shorts, Bellocchio announced himself with his ferocious first feature, the acclaimed Fists in the Pocket (1965). This caustic and anarchic look at an extremely troubled family launched him instantly to the first ranks of the Italian film scene, alongside Antonioni, Pasolini and Bertolucci. For the next several years, films such as China Is Near (1967) and In the Name of the Father (1971) found Bellocchio examining the turbulent world of leftist politics and revolutionary dreams with an eye both sympathetic and jaundiced. During the 1980s and 1990s, under the spell of unorthodox-and, to some, controversial-psychoanalyst Massimo Fagioli, Bellocchio's emphasis turned to examining the interweaving of family dynamics and sexual desire as they produce and undermine personal identities. Films such as A Leap in the Dark (1980) and Devil in the Flesh (1986) create complex allegories of an audacious originality. More recently, Bellocchio has turned to more straightforward narratives in a number of films that examine Italy's recent past and its present, from The Nanny (1999) to one of his most recent works, Dormant Beauty (2012). Shifting brilliantly from realist fiction to archival footage to the imagery of dream or fantasy, all within a single film, this recent period has returned Bellocchio to the forefront of contemporary cinema, while combining the lessons learned from both the previous political and allegorical work. What has remained constant is Bellocchio's searching critique of the institutions that control individuals and organize the flow of power: the army, political parties, schools, the state and its laws, the Church, and the family.

Pierfrancesco Favino was born on 24 August 1969 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He is an actor and producer, known for World War Z (2013), Rush (2013) and The Traitor (2019).

Cortellesi debuted in the show business at the age of 13, as a singer for "Cacao meravigliao", the jingle of the popular RAI TV show "Indietro tutta!" by Renzo Arbore. At 19 she began studying as an actress at the Teatro Blu in Rome (the same theatre school that Kim Rossi Stuart, Gianmarco Tognazzi, Claudia Gerini, Stefania Rocca, and Claudio Santamaria, among others, have attended). She began her career in television with the show "Macao", presented by Alba Parietti, but eventually reached nationwide popularity as a comic actress in the TV show "Mai dire Gol" by the Gialappa's Band (2000), which, in particular, showcased her skills at parodying famous people, a genre where she collected some of her most appreciated performances (the latest one being her parody of Milan's mayor Letizia Moratti in the 2010-2011 edition of the popular TV show "Zelig"). After "Mai dire Gol", Cortellesi has collaborated in several other TV Show of the "Mai dire..." franchise by Gialappa's Band. Other major performances of Cortellesi on television include the 2004 edition of the San Remo Music Festival and the leading role in the TV movie "Maria Montessori: Una vita per i bambini", a biography of Maria Montessori, for which Cortellesi received the "Maximo Award" at the Roma Fiction Fest. Her career in cinema includes several appreciates performances in comedies and comic movies, including a leading role in "Tu la conosci Claudia?", a very popular production starring the comic trio Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo. In 2008, she was nominated for the David di Donatello award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the movie "Piano, solo" by Riccardo Milani. In 2011 she won the David di Donatello for Best Actress for her leading role in "Escort in Love". One of her most appreciated theatrical performances was "Gli ultimi saranno gli ultimi" ("Last will be last") by Massimiliano Bruno, which has been staged 189 times from 2005 to 2007 in over 50 theatres, and for which Cortellesi has collected a number of awards. As a singer, Cortellesi has been described by Mina as "one of the best Italian voices" and has cooperated with several notable Italian musicians, including Elio e le Storie Tese, Renato Zero, Claudio Baglioni, Frankie hi-nrg mc, and Neri per Caso. Cortellesi married director Riccardo Milani on October 1, 2011. The couple have a daughter, Laura, born January 24, 2013.

Alessandro Borghi was born on 19 September 1986 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He is an actor, known for The Eight Mountains (2022), Suburra (2015) and On My Skin: The Last Seven Days of Stefano Cucchi (2018).

Matilda De Angelis is an Italian actress and singer. Her credits include the films Italian Race and Rose Island, and the television miniseries "The Undoing" and "The Law According to Lidia Poet." She started playing guitar and violin at the age of thirteen. She attended the Liceo Scientifico (science high school) "Enrico Fermi" in Bologna. In 2011, De Angelis began singing in the band Rumba De Bodas. The band also recorded an album, Karnaval Fou, which was released in 2014.

Sydney Sibilia was born on 19 November 1981 in Salerno, Campania, Italy. He is a writer and director, known for Rose Island (2020), I Can Quit Whenever I Want (2014) and Mixed by Erry (2023).

Elio Germano was born on 25 September 1980 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He is an actor and writer, known for Rose Island (2020), Leopardi (2014) and Nine (2009).

Maria Esposito is known for Io sono Rosa Ricci, Criature (2024) and The Sea Beyond (2020).

Due to his strong passion for acting, he attends an acting course at OMNES ARTES school, under the artistic guidance of Guido Governale and Veruska Rossi, and he enters the theatrical company "Piccoli per Caso". With this company he begins his career at 14 years old with the production of "Pinocchio" at the Ghione's theatre in Rome, in which Lorenzo plays the main role of Pinocchio, starring with Pino Ammendola and Giorgio Albertazzi. While he's still very young, he gets casted as a main role in the movie "Una famiglia perfetta" (2012) directed by Paolo Genovese, "Outing - fidanzati per sbaglio" (2013), and "Compromessi Sposi" (2019) directed by Francesco Micchichè. Among the many productions he worked in, he played a main role in "Una pallottola sul cuore 3" directed by Luca Manfredi and in "Questo è il mio paese" directed by Michele Soavi, broadcasted on Rai1. He also starred as a main character in the well-known Netflix series "BABY" (2018) directed by Andrea De Sica, "Sotto il sole di Riccione" (2020) directed by Yonuts and "Sotto il sole d'Amalfi". More recently he is known for his role in "Weekend" (2020) and "Morriso"n (2020) directed by Federico Zampaglione, for which he won the Nastro D'argento award. In 2021 he enters the main cast of the series PRISMA, directed by Ludovico Bessegato, produced by Amzon Studios and Cross Productions.

Benedetta's mother works as a secretary at the Quirinal Palace and her father was a lawyer and now works as an archaeologist, they separated when she was nine years old. She also has a younger brother, Guglielmo.

She has taken modeling classes since she was a child and began modeling at age 14 for the Subdued brand, then posed for Timberland, Fendi and Gucci. She never acted in plays in high school because she liked singing, however, she got into acting when her agent, Fiamma Consorti, a friend of her mother's, wanted to open a young talent agency, so she asked her if she felt like doing some auditions. She was initially reluctant but said she might give it a try. She then auditioned for the Rai 1 series Tutto può succedere (2015) and, a month later, when she had completely forgotten she had done it, she got the call that she got a role and was given a four-year contract. After she got the role, she said that, "school was the first problem," because she attended Terenzio Mamiani, a public school, she immediately had to switch and go to a private school to coordinate her shooting hours. She earned her diploma at the Visconti Institute in 2018. She then enrolled in college.

Porcaroli is also an avid singer, and has been singing since she was a child. She sang for eight years, entered a conservatory for four years, two years as a soloist and two years is a group, but dropped out, and has stated that she regrets it. She played sports such as volleyball, swimming, tennis, skiing and artistic gymnastics.

In 2016, she acted in the comedy drama film of Paolo Genovese Perfect Strangers (2016), in 2020 she participated in the film 18 Presents (2020), this film is based on the true story.

In November 2018, she starred in the Netflix series Baby (2018) as Chiara Altieri, which is loosely based on a scandal that caused a stir in Italy in 2014 when it came to light that two Italian high school students from a high school in the residential district of Parioli were engaged in part-time prostitution.

In 2018 Benedetta starred in the thriller Tutte le mie notti (2018). In 2021 she was part of a top female cast in the crime comedy 7 Women and a Murder (2021) based in the 1930s.

In 2022 came the turn of the romantic drama The Shadow of the Day (2022), followed by the dramas Amanda (2022) directed and written by Carolina Cavalli, and The Hummingbird (2022).

Her career continues to go from strength to strength.

Matteo Rovere was born on 22 January 1982 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He is a producer and writer, known for The First King (2019), Rose Island (2020) and Italian Race (2016).

Matteo Garrone was born in Rome in 1968. He is the son of a theatre critic, Nico Garrone, and a photographer. In 1996 he won the Sacher d'Oro, an award sponsored by Nanni Moretti, with the short film Silhouette (1996), that became one of the three episodes of his first feature film Land in Between (1996). He won Best Director at the European Film Awards and at the David di Donatello Awards for Gomorrah (2008). His film Reality (2012) competed in competition at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and won the Grand Prix. His latest film Tale of Tales (2015) was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

Miriam Leone was born in Catania, Sicily, to Gabriella Leone, a municipal employee, and Ignazio Leone, a retired teacher. As a child, she lived in Aci Catena, where her parents were from.

In 2008, she was the winner of the 69th edition of the Miss Italy beauty contest that opened for her the doors of the entertainment world. She presented the TV show Unomattina Estate (1992), was the judge of the Ciak Award and the host of the Nastro d'Argento award ceremony in 2011.

She started her acting career doing small roles on TV and cinema before debut as lead actress in television series Distretto di polizia (2000), The Lady with the Black Veil (2015), Thou Shalt Not Kill (2015) and the trilogy 1992 (2015), 1993 (2017), and 1994 (2019) about the Tangentopoli scandal. In 2021, she played Eva Kant, the main role of the movie adaptation of the comics series Diabolik (2021).

She has been married to Paolo Carullo since September 18, 2021.

Riccardo Scamarcio was born on 13 November 1979 in Trani, Apulia, Italy. He is an actor and producer, known for John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), Loose Cannons (2010) and Three Steps Over Heaven (2004).

Actor and director Toni Servillo was born in Afragola in 1959. In 1977 Servillo founded the Teatro Studio in Caserta for whom he directed 'Propaganda' (1979), 'Norma' (1982), 'Billy il bugiardo' (1983) and 'Guernica' (1985), amongst others. In 1986 he collaborated with the Falso Movimento group, interpreting 'Ritorno ad Alphaville' by Mario Martone and staging 'E...' on the texts of Eduardo De Filippo. Servillo became one of the founders of Teatri Uniti in 1987, continuing work as actor and director in the poetic and dramatic Neapolitan theatrical language. Such plays included: 'Partitura' (1988) and 'Rasoi' (1991) by Enzo Moscato; 'Adda passà a nuttata' (1989) by Eduardo De Filippo; 'Zingari' (1993) by Raffaele Viviani; and 'Sabato, domenica e lunedì' (2002), an award-winning re-working of De Filippo's masterpiece. With Il Misantropo (1995) and 'Tartufo' (2000) by Molière, and 'Le false confidenze' (1998) by Marivaux, all translated by Cesare Garboli, he staged a triptych on 17-18th century French theatre. Toni Servillo also presented 'L'uomo dal fiore in bocca' (1990/96) by Luigi Pirandello; 'Natura morta' (1990) about the 23rd Congress of the Soviet Union Communist Party; 'Da Pirandello a Eduardo' (1997); and 'L'uomo dal fiore in bocca' coupled with 'Sik Sik, l'artefice magico' by Eduardo De Filippo at the Teatro San Joao in Oporto. With Mimmo Paladino he realised 'Iliade/ Odissea' (2001) as an installation reading from Homer's masterpieces. He also appeared in 'Eliogabalo' (1981) directed by Memè Perlini; 'I Persiani' (1990) and 'Edipo Re' (2000) directed by Mario Martone; 'Il cavaliere dell'intelletto' (1994) by Franco Battiato; with Mariangela Melato in 'Tango barbaro' (1995) directed by Elio De Capitani; and in the roles of Geppetto and Fire-Eater in Andrea Renzi's transposition of 'The Adventures of Pinocchio' (2001). In 1999 Servillo made his directorial debut in musical theatre with the first staging in modern times of 'La cosa rara' by Martin y Soler. This was followed by Lorenzo Da Ponte's libretto for the Venice Opera House, where in 2000 he staged 'Le nozze di Figaro' by Mozart. In 2001 he realised 'Il marito disperato' by Cimarosa for the San Carlo Opera House in Naples and 'Boris Godunov' by Mussorgskij at the Teatro Sao Carlos in Lisbon, where in 2003 he also staged 'Ariadne auf Naxos' by Richard Strauss.

Salvatore Ficarra was born on 27 May 1971 in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. He is an actor and writer, known for L'ora legale (2017), Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem (2019) and Il 7 e l'8 (2007). He has been married to Rossella Leone since 20 May 2006. They have one child.

Valentino Picone was born on 23 March 1971 in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. He is an actor and writer, known for L'ora legale (2017), Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem (2019) and Il 7 e l'8 (2007).

Alba Rohrwacher was born on 27 February 1979 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy. She is an actress, known for Perfect Strangers (2016), Hungry Hearts (2014) and I Am Love (2009).

Luca Marinelli was born on 22 October 1984 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He is an actor, known for The Old Guard (2020), Martin Eden (2019) and They Call Me Jeeg Robot (2015). He is married to Alissa Jung.

Stefano Accorsi got his diploma from the School of Theater in Bologna. He divides his time between theater, cinema, and television. Currently he is the Artistic Director of the Theater Foundation of Tuscany. He was appointed Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French Ministry of Culture. His movies include: Jack Frusciante è uscito dal gruppo (Jack Frusciante Has Left the Band) by Enza Negroni, I piccoli maestri (Little Teachers) by Daniele Luchetti, Ormai è fatta! (Outlaw) by Enzo Monteleone (Grolla d'Oro Award), Un uomo perbene (A Respectable Man) by Maurizio Zaccaro (Grolla d'Oro), Capitaes de Abril (April Captains) by Maria de Medeiros, Come quando fuori piove by Mario Monicelli, Radiofreccia (Radio Arrow) and Made in Italy by Luciano Ligabue (David di Donatello, Amidei Award and Ciak d'Oro), L'ultimo bacio (The Last Kiss), Baciami ancora (Kiss Me Again) and A casa tutti bene (There's No Place like Home) by Gabriele Muccino, Saturno contro (Saturn in Opposition), Le fate ignoranti (The Ignorant Fairies) and La Dea Fortuna (The Goddess of Fortune) by Ferzan Ozpetek (Nastro d'Argento, Ciak d'Oro and Globo d'Oro from the foreign press in Italy), La stanza del figlio (The Son's Room) by Nanni Moretti, Santa Maradona by Marco Ponti, Romanzo criminale (Crime Novel) and Un viaggio chiamato amore (A Scandalous Journey / A Journey Called Love) by Michele Placido (Coppa Volpi Best Actor at the 59th Venice Film Festival), Tous le soleils by Philippe Claudel, Veloce come il vento (Italian Race) by Matteo Rovere (David di Donatello, Nastro d'Argento, 2016 FICE Award Actor of the Year), Fortunata directed by Sergio Castellitto (Ciak d'Oro Best Actor). He debuted in directing with the short film Io non ti conosco, produced by Yoox Group that he also acted in (2014 Nastro d'Argento Best NewDirector). For Sky Italia, the series 1992 and the sequels 1993 and 1994 directed by Giuseppe Gagliardi, of which he is the creator and actor. Also for Sky in association with HBO, The Young Pope by Paolo Sorrentino.

Adriano Giannini is the son of actor Giancarlo Giannini and of director Livia Giampalmo. From 1989 and 1998 he worked as a camera assistant in some of the most well known Italian and American productions.

Adriano made his cinema debut in 2000 as lead actor in "Alla rivoluzione sulla due cavalli," directed by Maurizio Sciarra (Pardo d'Oro in Locarno Festival 2001). Adriano received the "Biraghi" award for best actor, and the 'revelation of the year' award at Taormina Film Festival, 2002. That same yeaar, Adriano also starred with Giovanna Mezzogiorno in the movie "State zitti per favore" by Livia Giampalmo. In 2001, Adriano worked with Madonna in the English film "Swept Away " by Guy Ritchie. From then on his career has alternated between film and television projects in Italy and abroad.

Adriano is also known for being a talented dubbing artist, havign dubbed the voices of actors such as Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix, Jude Law, Christian Bale, Brad Pitt and Matthew Mc Conaughey. So far, this has won him two Nastri d'Argento awards. His directing debut came with the short film "Il Gioco", which he also produced and adapted, based on the short story by Andrea Camilleri. Adriano was in competition at the Venice Film Festival with Silvio Soldini's films "Il colore nascosto delle cose", "Lacci" by Daniele Lucchetti, and "Vivere" by Francesca Archibugi. In 2021, Adriano was among the protagonists of "Tre Piani," which screened at the Cannes film festival and was directed by Nanni Moretti, and the Amazon TV series "Bang Bang Baby," directed by Michele Alhaique.

Marco Giallini was born on 4 April 1963 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He is an actor, known for Perfect Strangers (2016), Rocco Schiavone: Ice Cold Murders (2016) and A.C.A.B. - All Cops Are Bastards (2012). He was previously married to Loredana Giallini .

Damiano D'Innocenzo was born on 14 July 1988 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He is a writer and director, known for Bad Tales (2020), Boys Cry (2018) and America Latina (2021).

Fabio D'Innocenzo was born on 14 July 1988 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He is a writer and director, known for Bad Tales (2020), Boys Cry (2018) and America Latina (2021).