Campolungo
We’re happy to be able to dedicate this second Campolungo to the work of Laura Samani, in the strong belief that her artistic journey represents one of the most shining examples of new Italian cinema, and not just according to a stylistic and thematic approach, but also from a production and distribution one. Her dazzling debut, Small Body, marks possible new directions for our cinema, crosses borders and stands out with its precision and coherence on the international scene.
Beatrice Fiorentino, Massimo Causo
Curators Campolungo
Laura Samani has a narrative power that derives from pure cinematic instinct and a conscious look at uncommon lives. In her two shorts and in her feature film, which has been widely circulated around the world, receiving praise and awards, her original dramaturgical sensitivity ranges across the visual and interior field.
Maurizio di Rienzo
Artistic Director ShorTS IFF
Biography
Laura Samani was born in 1989 in Trieste. After earning a degree in Cinema and Communication Sciences from the University of Pisa, she graduated in film directing from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome with the short film “LA SANTA CHE DORME,” which premiered at the Cannes Cinefondation in 2016 and was later screened and awarded at numerous international festivals.
Her debut feature film, “PICCOLO CORPO,” premiered at La Semaine de la Critique in Cannes in 2021. The film has collected over 40 awards worldwide; it was declared the best debut work at the David di Donatello Awards 2022 and won the Discovery Prix Fipresci 2022 at the European Film Awards. The Italian Film Critics Union (SNCCI) proclaimed it the Film of the Year 2022. She is currently working on her second feature film, “UN ANNO DI SCUOLA” (A Year of School).
Filmography
La Santa che dorme (19’, CSC Production, ITA 2016)
Piccolo corpo (89’, Nefertiti Film, Rai Cinema, Tomsa Films and Vertigo, ITA, FRA, SLO 2021)
L’estate e finita – Appunti su Furio (15’, Associazione Palazzo del Cinema – Hisa filma, Centro Espressioni Cinematografiche, Cinemazero, La Cappella Underground, ITA 2023)
