Maurizio Rizzuto, a gifted and accomplished director and screenwriter, hails from a family of esteemed journalists and television presenters, with his father, the renowned Maurizio Costanzo, a prominent figure in the industry.
As the culmination of his academic pursuits, he embarked upon a professional path marked by a trifecta of accomplishments: broadcasting as a radio host, crafting screenplays for RAI television series, and conceiving commercials. As the decade of the 1990s drew to a close, he seized the opportunity to take a bold and daring step, relocating to the vibrant metropolis of New York, where he assumed the roles of operator and assistant director. This experience, though brief, served as a crucial foundation for the future endeavors that lay ahead, ultimately leading him to dedicate himself to the art of documentary filmmaking.
Mario Rizzuto's entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found Offside, a production company, in the year 2001 alongside Mario Gianani. Initially, the company focused its creative energies on producing documentaries and historical programs for television, subsequently expanding its scope to encompass feature films. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in Rizzuto's career, as he gradually transitioned from behind-the-scenes to center stage.
Fast forward to 2004, Rizzuto made his directorial debut with the film "Private", which received widespread critical acclaim. The cinematic masterpiece went on to win numerous prestigious awards, including the Golden Leopard and the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the 2004 Locarno Film Festival. This remarkable achievement not only showcased Rizzuto's exceptional directorial skills but also catapulted him to the forefront of the film industry.
The subsequent year, 2005, proved to be just as fruitful for Rizzuto, as he received the Silver Ribbon and the David di Donatello award for Best Emerging Director. This recognition served as a testament to his remarkable talent and dedication to his craft, solidifying his position as a rising star in the world of filmmaking.
In the year 2007, Rizzuto unveiled his sophomore feature film, "In memoria di me", at the esteemed Berlin Film Festival, a prestigious platform that showcased his burgeoning talent to a global audience.
Two years subsequent to this milestone, Rizzuto secured the rights to adapt the highly acclaimed and bestselling novel "The solitude of prime numbers" penned by the renowned author Paolo Giordano, which had previously garnered the coveted Strega 2008 prize, a testament to its literary excellence.
This project signified a significant turning point in Rizzuto's professional trajectory, as he continued to challenge himself, striving to innovate and perfect his craft by delving into fresh themes and narrative techniques, thereby pushing the boundaries of his creative expression.
