Giuseppe Tornatore

Giuseppe Tornatore, born May 27, 1956, is an esteemed Italian film director and screenwriter. He is hailed as one of the central figures who revived Italian cinema, earning international acclaim. His prolific career, spanning over three decades, has achieved notoriety for directing and penning evocative drama films. Notable examples of his works include Everybody's Fine, The Legend of 1900, Malèna, Baarìa, and The Best Offer. Tornatore's most recognized film to date, however, is Cinema Paradiso, which fetched him the prestigious Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He also directed numerous advertising campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana. Tornatore has enjoyed a long-lasting relationship with composer Ennio Morricone, who scored music for thirteen of his feature films since 1988. From his humble beginnings in Bagheria, near Palermo, Tornatore paved a path in the world of cinema that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. He began his journey in the arts with a keen interest in acting and theatre, further exploring these passions by staging works by Luigi Pirandello and Eduardo De Filippo. His initial work realm was freelance photography before transitioning to film. Tornatore's first major success came with his debut full-length film, The Professor, in 1985, earning the Silver Ribbon for best new director. His mainstream global success followed with Cinema Paradiso, a touching narrative about a successful film director's reflection on his Sicilian roots. The film was applauded worldwide and clinched an Academy Award. He followed this up with several noteworthy films, winning the Silver George for Best Director at the 29th Moscow International Film Festival in 2007 for The Unknown Woman.