Emilio Insolera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Emilio Insolera
Insolera at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival
Born	(1979-01-29) 29 January 1979 (age 46) Buenos Aires
Alma mater	Gallaudet University; Sapienza University of Rome
Occupation	Actor director producer
Partner(s)	Carola Insolera
Children	2

Emilio Insolera (born January 29, 1979) is an Italian deaf actor and producer. He is well-known for his superhero movie Sign Gene: The First Deaf Superheroes (2017). In 2022, Emilio also acted in the spy film The 355. He has also worked on movies for big studios like Universal Pictures, Disney, and Paramount Pictures.

Early Life and Learning

Emilio Insolera was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on January 29, 1979. He grew up in an Italian Deaf family. His father, Alfio Insolera, made tools for cars, and his mother, Maria Cristina Drovetta, worked at a bank. Emilio is the youngest of two sons; his older brother, Humberto, is also Deaf. From a young age, Emilio loved acting and making films.

In 1989, Emilio's family moved back to Italy. They first lived in Sicily and then moved to different cities, finally settling in Rome. Before finishing high school, Emilio received special scholarships. These scholarships allowed him to attend Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Gallaudet is the only university in the world specifically for Deaf students. There, he studied Film and Sign Language Linguistics.

After college, Emilio worked for independent film companies and for MTV in New York City. He then went on to earn a master's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Rome La Sapienza. He finished with top honors. Even though sign language is his first language, Emilio can speak and read lips very well.

Emilio's Film Career

Tim Burton and Emilio Insolera in Tokyo

Emilio Insolera wrote, directed, and produced his own superhero movie called Sign Gene: The First Deaf Superheroes. This film was made in Japan, the US, and Italy. It's about deaf superheroes who get special powers from using sign language. Emilio explained that the idea for the film started in Japan. He was fascinated by how Japanese language and sign language connect.

In the movie, characters can do amazing things with their hands. For example, if they make a finger gun, it can turn into a real weapon that shoots fire! If they sign the word "close," doors can shut on their own.

Emilio was inspired by movies like Blade Runner (1982) and Akira. He first planned to make a short film. But so many people wanted to help that he decided to make it a full-length movie. He looked for actors who were fluent in sign language.

The movie first showed in Milan, Italy, on September 8, 2017. It then played in theaters starting September 14, 2017. It came to the US on April 13, 2018, and to Japan on September 14, 2018. The film was also shown at the 71st Cannes Film Festival in France.

Critics liked Sign Gene: The First Deaf Superheroes. The Los Angeles Times called it "wildly inventive" and "empowering." Other reviews praised its fast pace and how it used science fiction to show what is "invisible to the eyes." Many people see the film as a symbol of support for the visual community.

In November 2018, Emilio was on the cover of Tokyo Weekender magazine. The photo was taken by famous photographer Leslie Kee. Emilio was also on the main poster for Kee's "WE ARE LOVE" photo exhibition in Tokyo.

Since January 2019, Emilio has worked with Striscia la notizia. This is a popular Italian TV show on Mediaset's Canale 5. The show was the most watched TV program in spring 2019. In the same month, Emilio and Carola Insolera were featured in a fashion story in Vanity Fair Italia.

In September 2019, it was announced that Emilio joined the spy movie The 355. He acted alongside stars like Jessica Chastain and Penélope Cruz. The movie was released by Universal Pictures in 2022. Jessica Chastain helped Emilio get an audition for the role of Giovanni Lupo, a hacker. Emilio said his character, like many deaf people, became very skilled on his own. He thought that maybe his deafness helped Lupo connect more with technology.

In 2022, Emilio also worked on the English voice acting for Disney's series Limbo. He voiced a deaf character in the show.

In April 2024, Emilio was featured on the cover of a photo exhibition. This event was put on by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and Supermagazine. The exhibition showed 30 international celebrities wearing items from different LVMH brands. Emilio wore clothes from Loro Piana. The magazine also showed photos of his family wearing the brand.

In July 2024, Paramount Pictures released Here After, a thriller movie. Emilio worked on this film as an ASL (American Sign Language) consultant.

Helping Others

Emilio Insolera has worked with LISMedia and the Mason Perkins Deafness Fund. They create different learning materials in sign language. With researchers Elena Radutzky and Mauro Mottinelli, Emilio helped make the first Italian Sign Language dictionary in digital form. This dictionary is now available on DVD and as an app.

In 2025, Emilio started the Deaf Movie Database. This website shares information about many films and TV shows. Its main goal is to highlight Deaf professionals, including actors, writers, directors, and producers.

Personal Life

Carola Insolera and Emilio Insolera (2018)

Emilio Insolera is in a relationship with Norwegian model Carola Insolera. They met in Tokyo. They have two daughters together.

Film and TV Work

Movies

Television Shows

Music Videos

Awards and Honors

Emilio Insolera is a Fulbright Scholar. This is a very important award for educational exchange programs around the world.

He graduated from the University of Rome La Sapienza with the highest possible academic honors.

In 2019, the US-Italy Fulbright Commission named Emilio their Alumni of the Month. This was to recognize his important work and impact.

Emilio's film Sign Gene: The First Deaf Superheroes was shown at the 71st Cannes Film Festival.

See also

In Spanish: Emilio Insolera para niños