He was born in 1968, the 15th of October. He get graduated at Artistic High School in 1986; he works as clapper boy and then he devoted himself completely at painting.
In 1996 he won the Sacher Festival with the short "SILHOUETTE". The following year he made, with his own Archimede Production Company, first full length film "LAND IN THE MIDDLE", distributed by Tandem and winner at the Festival Cinema Giovani di Torino (Special Jury Prize and Cipputi Prize).
In 1998 in Naples, he made the documentary "ORESTE PIPOLO, MARRIAGE’S PHOTOGRAPHER" and, in the same year, he shot his second full length film "GUESTS", winner at the Venice Film Festival (Kodak Prize). The movie gained also the Special Nomination at the Angers Festival, Best Movie at the Valencia Festival and Kodak Prize at the Messina Festival.
His third full length film "ROMAN SUMMER", made in 2000 was included in the Official Selection of the Venice Film Festival.
It was with the movie "THE EMBALMER", in 2002, that he received the best reviews and public acclaim. The movie was presented at the 55th Edition of Cannes Festival, Quinzaine des Realisateurs. Winner of two David di Donatello as Best Script and as Best Supporting Actor; Nastro D'Argento as Best Editing; Ciak D'Oro as Best Editing; Premio Fellini as Best Producer, Best Script, Best Photography, Best Art Direction, Best Distribution. Also got the Special Jury Prize at the Premio Pasolini.
In 2005 he took part in the 54th Berlin International Movie Festival with the movie "FIRST LOVE" that won the Silver Bear as Best Soundtrack.
The movie also won the Nastro D'Argento as Best Soundtrack and the David di Donatello as Best Soundtrack.
"GOMORRAH", made in 2008, took part at the 61st Edition of Cannes Festival, winnig the Gran Prix.
"GOMORRAH" also obtained five European Film Awards (EFA) as Best Movie, Best Script, Best Director, Best Photography and Best Actor; Seven David di Donatello as Best Movie, Best Script, Best Director, Best Producer, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Original Song;
Silver Ribbon 2009 as Best Film of the Year;
It’s also nominated as Best Foreign Language Film at Golden Globes, Cesar and Bafta.