Francesco Carrozzini facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Francesco Carrozzini
Carrozzini in 2024
Born	(1982-09-09) September 9, 1982 (age 42) Monza, Italy
Alma mater	University of California, Los Angeles University of Milan
Occupation	Film director photographer
Spouse(s)	Bee Shaffer ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	1
Parent(s)	Franca Sozzani (mother)
Relatives	Carla Sozzani (aunt) Anna Wintour (mother-in-law) David Shaffer (father-in-law)

Francesco Carrozzini (born September 9, 1982) is an Italian film director and photographer who works in the United States. He is famous for directing music videos for stars like Jay-Z, Lana Del Rey, and Beyoncé. He has also directed movies and taken photographs of many famous people.

Carrozzini's first full-length movie was a documentary called Franca: Chaos and Creation. It was shown at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival in 2016. In 2022, his movie The Hanging Sun was the closing film at the 79th Venice International Film Festival.

Early Life and Education

Francesco Carrozzini was born in Monza, Italy. His mother was Franca Sozzani, who was the famous editor of the fashion magazine Vogue Italia. Growing up in Milan, Carrozzini started making short films and taking pictures with his friends when he was a teenager.

When he was 17, he moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 1999. There, he studied film at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Career as a Director and Photographer

Carrozzini has had a successful career in both film and photography. He is known for his creative style and for working with some of the biggest names in entertainment and fashion.

Directing Films and Commercials

Carrozzini's first directing job was a commercial for the 51st Venice Biennale, a famous art exhibition. He was only 23 years old. He later made a documentary in Poland about a theater group.

He worked with The New York Times to create a video series called "The New York Times Screen Tests." These were short, personal interviews with actors like Natalie Portman and Charlize Theron. The series was even nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award.

In 2008, he directed a short thriller film called "1937." It was shown at the Venice Film Festival. He has also directed commercials for big companies like Apple, Fiat, and Tommy Hilfiger.

Working with Famous Musicians

Starting in 2013, Carrozzini began directing music videos. He has worked with many popular artists, including:

• Beyoncé
• Jay-Z
• Lana Del Rey
• Lenny Kravitz
• Marilyn Manson

Feature Films

In 2016, Carrozzini released his first feature-length film, Franca: Chaos and Creation. This documentary is about the life of his mother, Franca Sozzani. It took him about six years to make. The film shows her important work in fashion and also explores their personal relationship as mother and son. The movie was shown at film festivals around the world and was released on Netflix in 2017.

His first fictional movie, The Hanging Sun, came out in 2022. It is based on a novel by Jo Nesbø and stars actors like Charles Dance and Peter Mullan. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

Carrozzini also directed some episodes of the Netflix series ..., which is based on the life of Italian star Rocco Siffredi.

Photography Career

Carrozzini is also a well-known photographer. He is especially famous for his portraits. He has photographed many pop culture icons, including:

• Actors: Angelina Jolie, Robert De Niro, and Scarlett Johansson.
• Models: Naomi Campbell, Heidi Klum, and Tyra Banks.
• Musicians: Beyoncé, Kanye West, and Sting.
• Artists: Jeff Koons and Marina Abramović.

His photos have been on the covers of famous magazines like Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, and Vogue Italia. He has also shot advertising campaigns for brands like Apple, Estée Lauder, and Salvatore Ferragamo.

Personal Life

From 2014 to 2015, Carrozzini was in a relationship with singer Lana Del Rey.

In 2018, he married Bee Shaffer. Her mother is Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of the American Vogue magazine. Carrozzini and Shaffer have one child together.

In memory of his mother, Carrozzini started the Franca Sozzani Fund for Preventive Genomics in 2019. This fund supports medical research at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Videography

Here are some of the music videos Carrozzini has directed:

Filmography