Maurizio Zaccaro

Maurizio Zaccaro (born 8 May 1952 in Milan, Italy) is an Italian film director, cinematographer, film editor, and screenwriter.

Biography

Maurizio Zaccaro was born in Milan. After ending his study at the Milan Film School (1977) he took on work in Ermanno Olmi Film Factory and at the same time developed several short movies. But with the debut of his movie Where the Night Begins (1991), a horror film, he received the David di Donatello Award for Best New Director and stepped into the business of film-making.

This first movie, entirely shot in United States, is also one of the few that he did not write himself.

Two years later his second movie The Valley of Stone (1992) followed, though not released abroad. This film was the cinematographic adaptation of a novel of the Austrian writer Adalbert Stifter. Another couple of years later the outstanding Article 2 – l'Articolo 2 (1994), a movie in a style reminiscent of the movies of Italian Neorealism with an almost poetic-like atmosphere. L' Articolo 2 won the Solinas award for best screenplay. In 1996, Zaccaro made the war movie The Game Bag, which also won David di Donatello for best supporting actor, Leo Gullotta, award. Later he directed A Respectable Man (Un uomo perbene) (1999) a legal thriller on Enzo Tortora, a well known anchorman of Italian television. A respectable man won the Pasinetti award in Venice Film Festival 1999, another David di Donatello for best supporting actor award and a Silver Ribbon for best screenplay. Zaccaro then showed his ability to direct TV movies as well, with La missione (The Mission) (1997), Un dono semplice – A simple gift (2000), Cuore – Heart (2001), and I ragazzi della via Pal (The boys of St. Paul street) (2003). Some others of his most successful TV films were Al di là delle frontiere – Beyond borders (2004), Mafalda di Savoia – Mafalda of Savoy (2005), O Professore – The professor (2006), "Lo smemoreato di collegno – The Forgetter" and "Le ragazze dello swing – The queens of swing" awarded in Montecarlo and Shanghai film Festival as best director.

“In writing, preparing, and shooting a film, I’m certain of one thing: I can’t please everyone with each decision I make. This certainty makes me feel free and easy, like the floating feather in Forrest Gump. So, what counts, is only the quality of my work.” Maurizio Zaccaro - Press conference, 66th Venice Film Festival (2009)

Films director 1989: In coda della coda 1991: Where the Night Begins 1992: The Valley of Stone aka Kalkstein 1994: L'articolo 2 1996: Testa matta 1997: The Game Bag 1998: La missione (TV) 1999: (TV) 1999: A Respectable Man 2000: Un dono semplice (TV) 2001: Cuore miniseries 2003: I ragazzi della via Pál (TV) 2004: Al di là delle frontiere miniseries 2005: Il bell'Antonio miniseries 2006: Mafalda di Savoia miniseries 2008: Il bambino della domenica miniseries 2008: O professore (TV) 2009: Lo smemorato di Collegno (TV) 2009: Il piccolo 2010: Le ragazze dello swing (TV) 2011: Un foglio bianco 2012: A testa alta (TV) 2013: adelante petrolersos 2014: Il sindaco pescatore 2016: La felicità umana - Human happiness

Screenplay 1989: In coda della coda 1994: L'articolo 2 1996: Cervellini fritti impanati 1997: The Game Bag 1999: A Respectable Man 1999: (TV) 2003: I ragazzi della via Pál (TV) 2006: Mafalda di Savoia miniseries 2009: Lo smemorato di Collegno (TV) 2009: Il piccolo 2010: Le ragazze dello swing

Cinematographer 1983: À la poursuite de l'étoile 1985: Mediatori e carrozze 1987: Lunga vita alla signora! 2009: Il piccolo

Film editor 1989: Maicol 1991: L'attesa

Assistant director 2009: Terra madre