Paolo Sorrentino, a renowned director and screenwriter, was born in Naples in 1970. His life took a drastic turn at the tender age of 16 when he lost both his parents, leaving him an orphan. This early loss had a profound impact on his life, shaping his perspective and informing his creative work.
After completing his education at the University of Naples Federico II, Sorrentino decided to pursue a career in the film industry. His first full-length feature, L'uomo in più, premiered at the 2001 Venice Film Festival, garnering three nominations for the David di Donatello Awards and winning the Nastro d'Argento for Best First-Time Director.
In 2004, Sorrentino directed Le conseguenze dell'amore, which was selected for Competition at the Cannes Film Festival and received widespread critical acclaim. The film went on to win numerous Italian awards, including five David di Donatello Awards.
Three years later, his third film, L'amico di famiglia, was also selected for Competition at Cannes. Sorrentino's collaboration with Toni Servillo continued, and in 2008, they worked together on Il Divo, which was nominated for Best Make-Up at the Academy Awards and won seven David di Donatello Awards, five Ciak d'Oro Awards, and five Nastri d'Argento Awards.
In addition to his work in film, Sorrentino has also ventured into literature. He published his novel, Hanno tutti ragione (Everybody's Right),in 2010, which was warmly received by both critics and the public and was short-listed for the Premio Strega, the most prestigious Italian literature award.
Sorrentino's filmography boasts an impressive track record, with seven of his nine films presented in Competition at the Festival de Cannes. Il Divo won the Prix du Jury in 2008, while La Grande Bellezza won the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, as well as a BAFTA and five EFA Awards in 2014.
In 2016, La Giovinezza gained an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song and two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song. The film won three European Film Awards. That same year, Sorrentino made his debut in television with the series The Young Pope.
Most recently, his film È stata la mano di Dio won the Grand Jury Prize at the 78th Venice International Film Festival in 2021. Throughout his career, Sorrentino has consistently pushed the boundaries of storytelling, exploring themes of identity, morality, and the human condition.
