15.10.11 Paolo Virzì

He gained a diploma from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome in 1987, having studied under
teachers of the calibre of Furio Scarpelli. He went on to collaborate on several scripts with the latter, including
“Time to Kill” (1989) by Giuliano Montaldo, “On Tour” (1990) by Gabriele Salvadores, “Condominium” (1991)
by Felice Farina and “Centro storico” (1992) by Roberto Giannarelli.

He made his directing debut in 1994 with “Living It Up” starring Sabrina Ferilli and Massimo Ghini. Set in his
beloved Tuscany, and presented at the Venice Festival, the film went on to take a slew of awards: the Ciak
d'Oro, a Nastro d'Argento and a David di Donatello. 1995 was the year of “August Vacation”, set on the Island
of Ventotene, with an outstanding cast led (again) by Ferilli, with Silvio Orlando and Laura Morante. This second outing as director won Vizì the David di Donatello for best film of the year. But the real success came in 1997, with the dazzling bittersweet comedy “Hardboiled Egg”, shot in his native Livorno.

His directing career was now on the up; he made “Kisses and Hugs” in 1999, and “My Name is Tanino” in 2002. He later directed a bright young talent, Alice Teghil, in “Caterina in the Big City” (2003), with Sergio Castellitto and Margherita Buy; also this time Virzìhit the bullseye: Margherita Buy won the Nastro d'Argento 2004 and the David di Donatello as best supporting actress. In 2006 Virzì tried his hand at a historic themed film: “Napoleon and Me”, with Valerio Mastandrea and Monica Bellucci. Amidst all this, Virzìfound time to do some acting, appearing in Nanni Moretti's “The Caiman”, giving an entertaining turn as a manager.

He again showed us proof of his artistry in 2008 with “Her Whole Life Ahead”, the cast including the now talismanic presence of Sabrina Ferilli, with Micaela Ramazzotti (Virzì wife in real life since 17 January 2009), Elio Germano and the Sicilian Isabella Ragonese. Some of the many awards garnered by the film include: the Nastro d'Argento and the Golden Globe for best film, the Ciak d'Oro for best film and best direction, as well as other prizes conferred on the lead actors. In 2010 he directed Valerio Mastandrea and his wife in “The First Beautiful Thing “. The film took five Nastri d' Argento prizes in 2010, including best film and best screenplay and got the David di Donatello best screenplay award also in 2010. Virzì style is hallmarked by an ability to take cues from the great directors of the twentieth
century and to rework the experiences of the past in a modern vein.