Francesco Stefani

Francesco Stefani (also known as Franz Stefani, January 23, 1923 – November 11, 1989) was a German film director of Italian descent who was born in Offenburg and died in Munich. He became famous mostly for children's productions, especially the 1957 film The Singing Ringing Tree.

After serving in Russia during the Second World War, Stefani attended LMU Munich, where he studied art history, theatre and theology.

In 1980 he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit, in 1983 the Bavarian Order of Merit.