Jonas Carpignano was born in 1984, and his childhood was marked by a unique blend of urban and European influences, as he grew up between New York City and Rome. This dual upbringing would later shape his distinctive cinematic perspective.
In 2015, Carpignano's first feature film, Mediterranea, made its world debut at the Cannes Film Festival's Semaine de la Critique, garnering widespread critical acclaim. The film's success was soon recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the National Board of Review's Best Directorial Debut award and the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Director.
Carpignano's subsequent feature film, A Ciambra, premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival's Director's Fortnight, where it won the coveted Europa Cinema Label prize for Best European Film. The film went on to receive widespread critical acclaim, earning Carpignano a nomination for Best Director at the Independent Spirit Awards.
A Ciambra's success continued to grow, with the film being chosen to represent Italy in the Best Foreign Film category at the 2018 Academy Awards. The film also won two David Di Donatello awards, including Best Director, solidifying Carpignano's reputation as a talented and innovative filmmaker.
Years later, Carpignano's third feature film, A Chiara, made its world premiere in the Director's Fortnight at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. The film's success was once again marked by its win of the Europa Labels prize for Best European Film, a prize Carpignano had previously won with A Ciambra.
