Paolo Sorrentino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paolo Sorrentino
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Sorrentino at the 2018 Venice Film Festival
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| Born | 31 May 1970 |
| Alma mater | University of Naples Federico II |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
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Notable work
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Il Divo (2009) The Great Beauty (2013) The Hand of God (2021) |
| Awards | Full list |
Paolo Sorrentino (born May 31, 1970) is a famous Italian film director and screenwriter. He is known for making movies that are beautiful to look at and have deep, interesting stories. Because of his unique style, people often compare him to other great Italian directors like Federico Fellini.
Sorrentino has won many important awards for his work. These include an Academy Award (also known as an Oscar), a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award. He has also won prizes at major film festivals like Cannes and Venice.
His most famous movie is The Great Beauty (2013). This film won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. He also directed the popular TV shows The Young Pope (2016) and The New Pope (2019).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Paolo Sorrentino was born in Naples, Italy. His father was a bank director and his mother was a homemaker. When he was 16, his parents died in an accident. This sad event had a big impact on his life and his work.
After high school, he went to the University of Naples Federico II to study economics. However, he decided to leave college to follow his passion for filmmaking.
Career as a Filmmaker
Sorrentino began his career in the late 1990s. He first worked as a screenwriter, writing the story for the film The Dust of Naples (1998). Soon after, he started directing his own short films.
First Movies
His first full-length movie was One Man Up (2001). The film was a success in Italy and won him an award for Best New Director. This was the start of his journey to becoming a well-known director.
He gained more attention with his next films. The Consequences of Love (2004) is a thriller about a lonely man who gets involved with the Mafia, a type of organized crime group. The movie was nominated for the top prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.
His next film, Il Divo (2008), was about Giulio Andreotti, a powerful and controversial Italian politician. The film was a big success and won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2011, he made his first movie in English, This Must Be the Place. It starred the famous American actor Sean Penn as a retired rock star.
International Success
Sorrentino's biggest success came in 2013 with the film The Great Beauty. The movie is about an aging writer who thinks about his life while exploring the beautiful city of Rome. The film was praised by critics all over the world. It won the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
After this huge success, he directed Youth (2015). This was his second English-language film and starred actor Michael Caine. The story is about two old friends on vacation who think about their past and future.
Recent Work
In 2021, Sorrentino released The Hand of God. This film is very personal because it is based on his own teenage years in Naples, including the time he lost his parents. Many critics said it was his most emotional film. It was nominated for an Academy Award.
Sorrentino also created and directed two popular television series for HBO: The Young Pope (2016) and its sequel The New Pope (2019). These shows are about a fictional American who becomes the Pope.
His 2024 film, Parthenope, is described as another "love letter to Naples" and stars actor Gary Oldman.
Personal Life
Sorrentino is married to Daniela D'Antonio, and they have two children, Anna and Carlo. He has said in interviews that he is an atheist, which means he does not believe in God.
In 2015, he received an Honorary Doctorate degree from the American University of Rome for his contributions to film.
Filmography
Here is a list of some of the movies and TV shows Paolo Sorrentino has worked on.
Feature films
| Year | English Title | Original Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Dust of Naples | Polvere di Napoli | No | Yes | |
| 2001 | One Man Up | L'uomo in più | Yes | Yes | |
| 2004 | The Consequences of Love | Le Conseguenze dell'Amore | Yes | Yes | |
| 2006 | The Family Friend | L'amico di famiglia | Yes | Yes | |
| 2008 | Il divo | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2011 | This Must Be The Place | Yes | Yes | First movie in English | |
| 2013 | The Great Beauty | La grande bellezza | Yes | Yes | |
| 2015 | Youth | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2018 | Loro | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2021 | The Hand of God | È stata la mano di Dio | Yes | Yes | |
| 2024 | Parthenope | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2025 | Grace | La grazia | Yes | Yes | |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Executive producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Young Pope | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 episodes; also creator |
| 2018-2024 | My Brilliant Friend | Yes | |||
| 2019 | The New Pope | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 episodes; also creator |
| 2025 | M. Son of the Century | Yes |
Awards and honors
Sorrentino has won many awards for his work in film. His movie The Great Beauty won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA. He has also received many other honors in Italy and across Europe.
In August 2025, he is set to receive the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award for his amazing contribution to cinema.
See also
In Spanish: Paolo Sorrentino para niños
