Nanni Moretti facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nanni Moretti
Moretti at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival
Born	Giovanni Moretti (1953-08-19) 19 August 1953 (age 72) Bruneck, South Tyrol, Italy
Occupation	Actor film director screenwriter producer
Years active	1976–present

Giovanni "Nanni" Moretti (born 19 August 1953) is a famous Italian filmmaker. He is a director, producer, screenwriter, and actor.

Nanni Moretti is well-known for his movies that have won big awards. His film The Son's Room (2001) won the top prize, the Palme d'Or, at the Cannes Film Festival. Another film, Sweet Dreams (1981), won a Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.

He has also won three David di Donatello Awards for Best Film. These were for Caro diario in 1994, The Son's Room in 2001, and The Caiman in 2006. Since Caro diario, all his directed films have been shown at the main competition of the Cannes Film Festival. In 2012, he was even the head of the jury there.

Early Life and First Steps in Film

Nanni Moretti was born in Bruneck, Italy. His parents were both teachers from Rome. His father, Luigi Moretti, taught Greek at a university. Nanni grew up loving movies and also playing water polo.

After finishing his studies, he decided to work in filmmaking. In 1973, he directed his first two short films. These were called Pâté de bourgeois and The Defeat.

Starting His Film Career

In 1976, Nanni Moretti released his first full-length movie, Io sono un autarchico (which means I Am Self-Sufficient). Two years later, in 1978, he wrote, directed, and starred in Ecce Bombo. This film was about a student facing challenges with his friends. It was even shown at the Cannes Film Festival.

His film Sogni d'oro won a Special Jury Prize at the 38th Venice International Film Festival. Later, La messa è finita won a Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize at the 36th Berlin International Film Festival.

Nanni Moretti's Famous Films

Nanni Moretti's experience playing water polo inspired his 1989 film Red Wood Pigeon. The Italian title "palombella" refers to a special type of shot in water polo.

He is perhaps most famous for Caro diario (1993). This film was followed by a sequel in 1998 called Aprile. His film La stanza del figlio (The Son's Room, 2001) won the top prize, the Palme d'Or, at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.

Later Works and Recognition

His 2006 film The Caiman explored political themes in Italy. In this movie, Moretti himself played a character similar to a well-known Italian politician. In 2011, his film We Have a Pope was shown at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. This movie was about the election of a new Pope.

Moretti's 2015 film Mia Madre also competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. It won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. More recently, his films Three Floors (2021) and A Brighter Tomorrow (2023) were also selected to compete at the Cannes Film Festival.

Nanni Moretti often works with the same actors in his films. For example, Silvio Orlando has appeared in five of his movies, and Laura Morante has been in three.

Nanni Moretti in 2007

Personal Life and Interests

Even though his films are not widely known outside Europe, Nanni Moretti is very famous in Italy. He is known for making funny and unique movies, where he often stars himself.

Moretti has stated that he is not religious. He lives in Rome, where he was born. He also co-owns a small movie theater called Nuovo Sacher. He named it after his favorite cake, the Sachertorte. In 1996, he made a short film called Opening Day of Close-Up, which showed him trying to get people to watch a film at his theater.

Nanni Moretti is also known for his political views. He is a supporter of left-wing politics in Italy. In 2002, he helped organize street protests against the government at the time. He also made a documentary film called The Thing, which looked at Italian left-wing activists.

In April 2025, Nanni Moretti was hospitalized after having a heart attack.

Filmography

Feature Films Directed by Nanni Moretti

Short Films

• La sconfitta (1973)
• Pâté de bourgeois (1973)
• The Only Country In The World (1994)
• Opening Day of Close-Up (1996)
• The Last Customer (2002)
• Il grido d'angoscia dell'uccello predatore (2003)
• L'ultimo campionato (2007)
• Diary Of A Moviegoer (2007)
• Film Quiz (2008)
• Scava dolcemente l'addome (2013)
• Autobiografia dell'uomo mascherato (2013)
• Ischi allegri e clavicole sorridenti (2017)
• Piazza Mazzini (2017)

Documentaries

• Come parli frate? (1974)
• The Thing (1990)
• Santiago (2018)

Films Where Nanni Moretti Acted Only

• Father and Master (1977)
• Riso in bianco: Nanni Moretti atleta di se stesso (1984 TV movie)
• It's Happening Tomorrow (1988)
• The Yes Man (1991)
• The Second Time (1995)
• I Can See It in Your Eyes (2004)
• Quiet Chaos (2008)
• Venanzio Revolt: i miei primi 80 anno di cinema (2016) – he was the narrator
• The Hummingbird (2022)

Awards and Honors

Nanni Moretti has received many awards for his work in film. Here are some of the most important ones:

• Cannes Film Festival
  • Best Director in 1994 for Caro diario
  • Palme d'Or in 2001 for The Son's Room
  • Ecumenical Prize in 2015 for Mia madre

• Venice Film Festival
  • Special Jury Prize in 1981 for Sweet Dreams

• Berlin International Film Festival
  • Special Jury Prize in 1986 for The Mass Is Ended

• David di Donatello Awards (Italy's top film awards)
  • Best Film in 1994 for Caro diario
  • Best Film in 2001 for The Son's Room
  • Best Film, Best Director, and Best Producer in 2006 for Il caimano
  • Best Documentary in 2019 for Santiago

• Silver Ribbon (Another important Italian film award)
  • Best Director in 1994 for Caro diario
  • Best Director in 2001 for The Son's Room
  • Best Director, Best Story, and Best Producer in 2011 for We Have a Pope

• Ciak d'oro Awards
  • Best Film and Best Director in 1994 for Caro diario
  • Best Film and Best Director in 2001 for The Son's Room
  • Best Film and Best Director in 2006 for Il caimano
  • Best Film in 2011 for We Have a Pope
  • Best Director in 2015 for Mia madre

See also

In Spanish: Nanni Moretti para niños