Our Story

Vivo film, established in Rome at the beginning of 2004 by Gregorio Paonessa and Marta Donzelli, is an Italian independent production company with a catalogue of over 40 films, presented and awarded at the most prestigious festivals worldwide.

Vivo film’s productions include works by Laura Bispuri, Andrea De Sica, Guido Chiesa, Jean-Louis Comolli, Emma Dante, Michelangelo Frammartino, Jennifer Fox, Chiara Malta, Masbedo, Pippo Mezzapesa, Susanna Nicchiarelli, Nelo Risi, Corso Salani, Daniele Vicari.

In 2007 My Country by Daniele Vicari won the David di Donatello Award for Best Documentary and Imatra by Corso Salani was awarded the Pardo d’Oro – Special Jury Prize in Locarno’s Filmmakers of the present section.

In 2010 Le quattro volte by Michelangelo Frammartino, was premiered in Cannes Director’s Fortnight Section and won the Europa Cinema Label Award. Since then, it has been sold in more than 45 countries, and has been travelling around the world in the most prestigious festivals receiving countless awards, being the most awarded Italian movie in 2010 and one of the most awarded Italian movies of the last 10 years. It was awarded a Special Nastro d’Oro in 2010. With Le quattro volte, in 2011 Marta Donzelli and Gregorio Paonessa got a nomination for the David di Donatello as “Best producer” and were awarded a Ciak d’Oro as “Best Producer”.

In 2012 Pezzi by Luca Ferrari was awarded as Best Documentary at the Rome International Film Festival.

In 2013 Alberi, a cinematic installation in loop by Michelangelo Frammartino was world premiered in the prestigious V/W Dome of MoMA PS1, in partnership with Tribeca Film Festival. Alberi was also presented at Den Frie in Copenhagen in collaboration with CPH:DOX and at Teatro Cinema Manzoni in Milan in collaboration with Filmmaker International Film Festival.

A Street in Palermo, the first film by cult theatre director Emma Dante, was premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival 2013 and Elena Cotta won the Coppa Volpi for “Best Actress”.

Always in 2013 Sangue by Pippo Delbono was selected in the Official Competition of Locarno International Film Festival and Wolf, a documentary film by Claudio Giovannesi, was in competition at the 31° edition of the Torino Film Festival in the section TFF/DOC Italiana.doc and won the Jury Award.

The Lack by Masbedo was world premiered in the Venice Days section of the 2014 Venice Film Festival.

In February 2015 Sworn Virgin by Laura Bispuri had its world premiere in competition at the Berlinale, then it started a long trip between international festivals all around the world, receiving important awards: among others, the prestigious Nora Ephron Prize at Tribeca Film Festival in New York, the Firebird Award at Young Competition of Hong Kong International Film Festival, the Golden Gate New Directors Prize at San Francisco International Film Festival, the Globo d’Oro 2015, assigned by Italian foreign press, as “Best First Film”. Sworn Virgin was also nominated for a David di Donatello award as “Best First Film”.

In September 2015 Innocence of Memories by Grant Gee, a UK coproduction, was presented at the “Authors’ Days” of Venice Film Festival.

In 2016, Children of the Night by Andrea De Sica was premiered in competition at the 2016 Torino Film Festival, where it was the only Italian film in competition. Thanks to that movie, Andrea De Sica won a Silver Ribbon Award for Best New Director and he was nominated for a David di Donatello Award as Best New Director.

In 2017, Nico, 1988 by Susanna Nicchiarelli, a biographical film based on the last years of Christa Päffgen (Nico), openend the section Orizzonti at the 74th Venice Film Festival, where it won the Best Film award. In addition the movie received 4 David di Donatello, including the Best Original Script award.

Still in 2017, Vivo film produced both Jacopo Quadri’s documentary Lorello e Brunello, premiered in the official competition at the Torino Film Festival where it was given the Cipputti Award and a Special Mention of the Jury, and Looking for Oum Kulthum by Shirin Neshat, a co-production between Italy, Germany and Austria, which was presented at the “Authors’ Days” of Venice Film Festival and lately at the Toronto International Film Festival.

In 2018, Daughter of Mine by Laura Bispuri had its premiere in the official competition of Berlinale and it won the FIREBIRD AWARD at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, the Media Choice for the Best Film at the Shangai Film Festival and the Golden Anchor Award at the Haifa International Film Festival.

Vivo film is presenting two films in the Panorama section of the 2019 Berlinale: Dafne by Federico Bondi and Flesh Out by Michela Occhipinti. It is also currently committed in the production of Simple Women by Chiara Malta and Siberia by Abel Ferrara and in the development of, among others, Miss Marx by Susanna Nicchiarelli and Arturo’s Voice by Irene Dionisio, selected at Berlinale Talents and ScriptStation.

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