Nanni Moretti

Moretti was born in Bruneck, Italy to Roman parents who were both teachers. His father was the late epigraphist Luigi Moretti, a Greek teacher at Sapienza University of Rome. His brother is literary scholar Franco Moretti. == Career ==

While growing up Moretti discovered his two passions, the cinema and water polo. Having finished his studies he pursued a career as a producer, and in 1973 directed his first two short films: Pâté de bourgeois and The Defeat (). In 1976, Nanni Moretti's first feature film Io sono un autarchico (I Am Self-Sufficient) was released. In 1978, he wrote, directed and starred in the movie Ecce Bombo, which tells the story of a student having problems with his entourage. It was screened at the Cannes Festival. ''Sogni d'oro won the Special Jury Prize at the 38th Venice International Film Festival. La messa è finita'' won the Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize at the 36th Berlin International Film Festival. Having played waterpolo in the B division of the Italian championship, his experience later inspired his 1989 film Red Wood Pigeon ("palombella," which literally means "little pigeon," refers to a type of lob shot). He may be best known for his films Caro diario (1993; followed in 1998 by a sequel, Aprile) and La stanza del figlio (''The Son's Room'', 2001), the latter of which won the at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. The Caiman (2006) is in part about Berlusconi's controversies: in one of the three portraits of the Italian prime minister Moretti himself plays Berlusconi. His 2011 film We Have a Pope screened In Competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, follows the conclave election of new Pope. His 2015 film Mia Madre was selected to compete for the at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, and won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. His 2021 and 2023 films Three Floors and A Brighter Tomorrow were also selected to compete for the at the 2021 and 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Moretti has used certain actors several times in his films, generally playing minor roles. His father Luigi appears in 6 films, Dario Cantarelli and Mauro Fabretti in 5, Antonio Petrocelli in 4. More notable Italian actors he has employed frequently in his films include Silvio Orlando, who appears in 5 films (including the role of protagonist in Il caimano) and Laura Morante, who was featured in ''Sogni d'oro, Bianca and The Son's Room''. == Personal life ==

Even though his works have not been widely seen outside Europe, within his country, Moretti is known as a maker of wryly humorous and eccentric films, usually starring himself. Moretti says he is not religious. In his own words: "I remember the shirts that said 'Thank God I'm an atheist'. Funny. But I do not think so. I'm not a believer and I'm sorry". Moretti is also a famous outspoken political leftist in Italian politics. In 2002, he organized street protests against the government of Silvio Berlusconi, besides his own documentary film The Thing (La cosa), which follows the first meeting of Italian leftist militants after the Italian Communist Party's dissolution proposal in 1989. He lives in Rome, having been resident since birth, where he is co-owner of a small movie theater, Nuovo Sacher, named like this because of Moretti's passion for Sachertorte. The short film, Il Giorno della prima di Close Up (Opening Day of Close-Up, 1996), shows Moretti at his theatre attempting to encourage patrons to attend the opening day of Abbas Kiarostami's film, Close Up. In April 2025, Moretti was hospitalised after suffering a heart attack. ==Filmography==

Feature films Short films • La sconfitta (1973) • Pâté de bourgeois (1973) • The Only Country In The World (''L'unico paese al mondo'', 1994) • Opening Day of Close-Up (Il Giorno della prima di Close Up, 1996) • The Last Customer (2002) • ''Il grido d'angoscia dell'uccello predatore'' (2003) • ''L'ultimo campionato'' (2007 short) • Diary Of A Moviegoer (Diario di uno spettatore, 2007 short of To Each His Own Cinema) • Film Quiz (2008) • ''Scava dolcemente l'addome'' (2013) • ''Autobiografia dell'uomo mascherato'' (2013) • Ischi allegri e clavicole sorridenti (2017) • Piazza Mazzini (2017) Documentaries • Come parli frate? (1974 medium) • The Thing (La cosa, 1990 medium) • Santiago, Italia (2018) Actor only • Father and Master (Padre padrone, 1977) – directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani • Riso in bianco: Nanni Moretti atleta di se stesso (TV movie, 1984) – directed by Marco Colli • ''It's Happening Tomorrow (Domani accadrà'', 1988) – directed by Daniele Luchetti • The Yes Man (Il portaborse, 1991) – directed by Daniele Luchetti • The Second Time (La seconda volta, 1995) – directed by Mimmo Calopresti • I Can See It in Your Eyes (2004) – directed by Valia Santella – cameo • Quiet Chaos (Caos calmo, 2008) – directed by Antonello Grimaldi • Venanzio Revolt: i miei primi 80 anno di cinema (2016) – directed by Fabrizio Dividi, Marta Evangelisti, Vincenzo Greco – narrator • The Hummingbird (2022) ==Awards==

• Cannes Film Festival • Prix de la mise en scène 1994: Caro diario • 2001: ''The Son's Room'' • Prix de la FIPRESCI 2001: ''The Son's Room'' • Carrosse d'Or 2004 • Rome's Award 2006: Il caimano • Ecumenical Prize 2015: Mia madre • Venice Film Festival • Silver Lion – Special Jury Prize 1981: Sweet Dreams • "Bastone Bianco" Filmcritic Award 1989: Red Wood Pigeon • Berlin International Film Festival • Silver Bear – Jury Grand Prix 1986: The Mass Is Ended • Jury C.I.C.A.E Award 1986: The Mass Is Ended • Chicago International Film Festival • Golden Plaque for Best Documentary Short Film 2003: The Last Customer • Silver Plaque for Best Screenplay 2008: Quiet Chaos • European Film Awards • FIPRESCI Prize 1994: Caro diario • São Paulo International Film Festival • Critics Award 1990: Red Wood Pigeon • Sudbury Cinéfest • Best International Film 1994: Caro diario • Sant Jordi Awards • Best Foreign Film 1995: Caro diario • Guild of German Art House Cinemas • Guild Film Award – Silver 2002: ''The Son's Room'' • David di Donatello • Alitalia Award 1986 • Golden Medal of the City of Rome 1986 • Best Actor 1991: The Yes Man • Best Film 1994: Caro diario • Best Film 2001: ''The Son's Room'' • Best Film 2006: Il caimano • Best Director 2006: Il caimano • Best Producer 2006: Il caimano • Best Documentary 2019: Santiago • Silver Ribbon • Best Story 1978: Ecce Bombo • Best Producer 1988: ''It's Happening Tomorrow'' • Best Story 1990: Red Wood Pigeon • Best Producer 1992: The Yes Man • Best Director 1994: Caro diario • Best Producer 1996: The Second Time • Best Director 2001: ''The Son's Room'' • Best Producer 2007: Il caimano • Best Director 2011: We Have a Pope • Best Story 2011: We Have a Pope • Best Producer 2011: We Have a Pope • Ribbon of the Year 2019: Santiago • '''Ciak d'oro Awards''' • Best Director 1986: The Mass Is Ended • Best Screenplay 1986: The Mass Is Ended • Best Director 1990: Red Wood Pigeon • Best Film 1994: Caro diario • Best Director 1994: Caro diario • Best Screenplay 1994: Caro diario • Best Film 2001: ''The Son's Room'' • Best Director 2001: ''The Son's Room'' • Best Film 2006: Il caimano • Best Director 2006: Il caimano • Best Screenplay 2006: Il caimano • Best Film 2011: We Have a Pope • Best Screenplay 2011: We Have a Pope • Best Director 2015: Mia madre • Honorary Ciak d'oro 2019 • UBU Awards • Best Italian Movie 1977/78: Ecce Bombo • Best Actor 1984/85: Sweet Body of Bianca • '''Globi d'oro Awards''' • Best Debut 1977: I Am Self Sufficient • Best Film 1994: Caro diario • Best Film 2011: We Have a Pope • Cahiers du cinéma • Best Film 1989: Red Wood Pigeon (ex equo with Do the Right Thing) • Best Film 1994: Caro diario • Best Film 2011: We Have a Pope • Best Film 2015: Mia madre ==References==