- Tell us about yourself.

I’ve been working as a director and filmmaker for 16 years. I studied film directing at INSAS film school in Brussels, where I fell in love with documentary filmmaking. After graduating, I decided to return to Italy, where it all began.

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- What have cinema and filmmaking taught you?

Over the years, I’ve had to learn to put my ego aside (not an easy thing for a director!) and simply focus on serving the stories people want to tell.

From research foundations to hair salons, from agricultural cooperatives to auction houses, I’ve learned to listen to the specific needs of each organisation and work together with them to craft an authentic narrative.

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- Heart or head? Which one takes priority for you?

For me, it all comes down to finding the right balance between storytelling and technology. Beautiful images and professional-quality sound are important (I shoot with a Sony FX3), but no technical detail should ever take priority over the humanity and authenticity of the story we’re telling.

Otherwise, we might as well let a computer do the job ;)

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- What gives you a sense of fulfilment?

Knowing that a client feels genuinely and authentically represented brings me great joy. It all starts with carefully listening to the needs of the project and the people involved.

I want the people at the heart of my films to truly recognize themselves in the stories I tell. For example, one of my earlier films, La Montagne sous Paris, has become a cult film among the cataphiles — the community of underground explorers who venture into the Paris catacombs.

It’s incredibly rewarding to know that, years later, the film is still being shared and appreciated by the very community that inspired it.