Paolo Licata

PAOLO LICATA Director, Screenwriter, Editor, Storyboard artist Born in Palermo in 1981, he followed classical studies and graduated in Law at the University of his city with a thesis entitled "The employment relationship in entertainment". Son of musicians, he studied violin and piano and during his adolescence he attended various opera and symphonic theaters in the world, taking particular interest and passion for directing. He has held the role of assistant director in many operas of the great Italian repertoire such as "Rigoletto", "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci", "Turandot", "Boheme" in the United States, Australia, Spain, Poland etc ... . After graduating, he attended the University of Cinema in Cinecittà. He has made several short films presented in various film reviews: "The debut", "Answer", "False Reality". He has held the role of assistant director on several film sets, including that of Krzysztof Zanussi's "Il sole nero" and Pasquale Scimeca's "Rosso Malpelo". He was Assistant Director on the set of CSI: Miami. He has written several screenplays for feature films ("TWINGE", "Son of Paper" with Heidrun Schleef and "Picciridda" with Ugo Chiti). He directed 5 commercials for the Ministry's campaign against violence in stadiums, with actors Martina Stella and Lorenzo Flaherty. In 2011 he made the medium-length film "THE NOVEL", as author, producer and director. The project was attended by artists of the caliber of Andrea MORRICONE (Music), Mariano TUFANO (costumes) and Cinzia LO FAZIO (scenography). In addition to being in review at the 2011 CANNES FESTIVAL, "The Novel" has obtained various awards in various Festivals around the world. In 2018 he is on the set of the feature film PICCIRIDDA - with his feet in the sand, as a screenwriter, producer and director. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Catena Fiorello and the screenplay is written with the collaboration of Ugo Chiti. Released in theaters in 2020, and still in full commercialization also abroad, Picciridda is one of the most viewed and appreciated films of the year (for some time at the top of the Italian box office), and has obtained various awards, including 5 nominations for the Golden Globes (2 won) and the Nastri d'Argento. Praised and supported by OLIVER STONE who defined it as one of the most beautiful Italian films of recent years and allowed his comment to be included in the poster and promotional material of the film. It was in third place among the 10 most beautiful Italian films of 2020 for PANORAMA and, for the same newspaper, among the 20 most beautiful films in the world of 2020. It was visible on SKY platform (periodically into the category of the most viewed films ) and it is visible on Amazon prime, Apple TV, Youtube, Google Play, Cecchi Gori Entertainment, CHILI, RAKUTEN TV and AMAZON PRIME VIDEO USA. WORKS: Assistant director in Opera productions: * "Rigoletto", director Roberto Laganà 2003; * "Cavalleria Rusticana e Pagliacci", director Roberto Laganà 2004; * "Boheme", director Roberto Laganà 2005; Assistant director Feature Films: * "Il Sole Nero" by Krzysztof Zanussi 2006; * "Rosso Malpelo" by Pasquale Scimeca 2007; * "CSI: Miami" fifth season 2008; Director in shorts: * "Answer" 2007; * "Falsa Realtà" short produced by NUCT di CINECITTÅ 2008; * "Il Debutto" short produced by POLIFEMO s.r.l. 2009, awarded at Biennale di Venezia sezione Teatro; * "The Novel" 2011. Director in commercials: * 4 Spot del Ministero dell'Interno campagna "Dai un calcio alla violenza" 2010. Con Martina Stella e Lorenzo Flaherty. * Spot promo Festa del Cinema di Roma 2016. Screenwirter / Director / Storyboard artist: * "Answer" (short) - 2003; * "Falsa Realtà" (short) - 2004; * "Cuore Fermo" (short) - 2007; * "The Novel" (short) - 2011; * "Sweetheart" (short) - 2016 (producer and storyboard): * "Twinge" feature; * "Figlio di Carta" (feature); * "Picciridda" (feature); * "L'amore che ho" (feature) Singer Rosa Balistreri's biopic (in development) AWARDS "The Debut" (short) 2009 -Best short at Biennale di Venezia (student competition) "The Novel" (short) 2011 -Los Angeles Movie Awards - Best Short; -Los Angeels Movie Awards - Best Costume Design; -Los Angeles Movie Awards - Best Production Design; -Los Angeles Movie Awards - Best Music Score; -Hollywood Hollyshorts - Audience Award; -Buffalo Niagara Film Festival - Best Director; -Buffalo Niagara Film Festival - Best Cinematography; -Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival - Best Short; -California International Film Festival - Best Short; -New York Los Angeles International Film Festival - Best Short; -New York Los Angeles International Film Festival - Best Director; -New York Los Angeles International Film Festival - Best Actor; -Cannes Film Festival - in rassegna; "Picciridda" / "Alone with her dreams" (Feature) 2020 * Best Screenplay, Taormina Film Festival; * Best young actress , Taormina FF; * Honorable Mention to the actresses, Taormina FF; * Best Film - Ortigia Film Festival; * Honorable mention, Ortigia FF; * Best First time director, Italian Golden Globe; * Best Music Score, Italian Golden Globe; * Best Film, Mantova Film Festival; * Best firts time director, Premio Kineo, Mostra del cinema di Venezia; * Best film, Trailer Film Festival; * Best trailer, Trailer Film Festival; * Best film, Sudestival; * Socially Inclusive Award, Sudestival; * Best music score, Sudestival; * Best director, Modena Buk Film Festival; * Best Film, Modena Buk Film Festival; * Best actress, Modena Buk Film Festival; * Best Film audience award, Asti International Film Festival; * Best Film, Asti International Film Festival; * Best director, Prato Film Festival; * Best actress , Prato Film Festival; * Best actress supporting role, Prato Film Festival; * Best actresses, Sila Film Festival; * Best director, Sila Film Festival; * Best Film, Marettimo Italian Film Fest; * Best Director, Sicily Film Awards; * Best Director - Efesto D'oro, Un Mare di Cinema, Lipari Film Festival.