Christian Filippella is a producer, cinematographer and director, current member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA) and the Television Academy (ATAS/NATAS). Filippella began working as an independent filmmaker in Spain and Ireland. He was accepted to the directing program of the prestigious

Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia The Centro sperimentale di cinematografia (Experimental Film Centre or Italian National film school) was established in 1935 in Italy and aims to promote the art and technique of cinematography and film. The centre is the oldest film school in ...

in Rome and was awarded his diploma in 2005 with his thesis film Thermae starring Claire Falconer and

Carolina Crescentini Carolina Crescentini (born 18 April 1980 in Rome) is an Italian actress. She is a graduate of the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, and star of the box office hit movie Parlami d'amore, directed by Silvio Muccino. She worked with Giuliano ...

. Subsequently, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and completed MFA studies at the American Film Institute (AFI) in 2008. Filippella also has received twice the Philip Morris Cinema Award and the

Sergio Corbucci Sergio Corbucci (; 6 December 1926 – 1 December 1990) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and producer. He directed both very violent Spaghetti Westerns and bloodless Bud Spencer and Terence Hill action comedies. He is the older bro ...

Prize in 2006. His first feature film Silver Case stars

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

nominees

Seymour Cassel Seymour Joseph Cassel (January 22, 1935 – April 7, 2019) was an American actor who appeared in over 200 movies and television shows, and had a career that spanned over 50 years. Cassel first came to prominence in the 1960s in the pioneering in ...

and

Eric Roberts Eric Anthony Roberts (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor. His career began with a leading role in '' King of the Gypsies'' (1978) for which he received his first Golden Globe Award nomination. He was nominated again at the Golden Globes ...

in the lead role of the Senator, and features

Shalim Ortiz Shalim Ortiz (born February 26, 1979) is a Puerto Rican actor and singer. Personal life Ortiz is the son of Dominican singer, actress, and host Charytín Goyco and Puerto Rican actor and comedian Elín Ortiz. Ortiz married Leslie Ann Machado in ...

, Chris Facey, Brian Keith Gamble, Vincent De Paul (actor),

Fernanda Romero Fernanda Romero (born as María Fernanda Romero Martínez on October 4, 1983) is a Mexican actress, model and singer. She is most noted for her starring role in the Mexican telenovela '' Eternamente tuya'' and her supporting role in the Ame ...

Scarlett Chorvat Scarlett Chorvat (born August 25, 1972 in Bratislava, Slovakia) is a Slovak American actress. She moved to the U.S. at the age of five. Chorvat started playing tennis semi-professionally at the age of 15, but moved on to become a model (person) ...

and Claire Falconer. ''Silver Case'', which premiered at

Rome International Film Festival International Rome Film Fest is a film festival that takes place in Rome during the month of October. The name in Italian is Festa del Cinema di Roma. Sections The Rome Film Festival official program is divided into several sections: Cinema d'Og ...

, won 5 Indie Awards with Best of Show. The movie has been released worldwide. The ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...

'' reviewed the film as "brisk, good-looking and never dull" Mr Filippella has since then produced and shot several other feature films including ''Silver Case'' starring

nominees

and

, ''Nandor Fodor and The Talking Mongoose'' starring Academy Award actress

Minnie Driver Amelia Fiona Jessica "Minnie" Driver (born 31 January 1970) is an English actress. She rose to prominence with her break-out role in 1995's '' Circle of Friends''. She went on to star in a wide range of films including the cult classic '' Grosse ...

Christopher Lloyd Christopher Allen Lloyd (born October 22, 1938) is an American actor. He has appeared in many theater productions, films, and on television since the 1960s. He is known for portraying Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown in the ''Back to the Future'' tril ...

and

Simon Pegg Simon John Pegg (né Beckingham; born 14 February 1970) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. He came to prominence in the UK as the co-creator of the Channel 4 sitcom ''Spaced'' (1999–2001), directed by Edgar Wright. H ...

, ''Hellfire'' starring Oscar nominee

Harvey Keitel Harvey Keitel ( ; born May 13, 1939) is an American actor. He is known for his portrayal of morally ambiguous and "tough guy" characters. He first rose to prominence during the New Hollywood movement, and has held a long-running association with ...

and

Stephen Lang Stephen Lang (born July 11, 1952) is an American actor. He is known for roles in films including '' Manhunter'' (1986), '' Gettysburg'', '' Tombstone'' (both 1993), '' Gods and Generals'' (2003), '' Public Enemies'' (2009), ''Conan the Barbaria ...

, ''This is Our Christmas'', ''Christmas Couples Retreat'' and ''Beverly Hills Christmas'' starring

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, John Savage,

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and Academy Award Winner

Margaret O'Brien Angela Maxine O'Brien (born January 15, 1937) is an American film, radio, television, and stage actress, and is one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema. Beginning a prolific career as a child actress in feature ...

. In 2018 Filippella received the Halo Award and the Life Achievement Award from the Motion Picture Council in Hollywood.

Honors

* ''Life Achievement Award'' Motion Picture Council (2018) * ''Halo Award - Best Feature'' Motion Picture Council (2018) * ''Los Angeles Film & TV Festival - Best Feature'' (2013) * ''Los Angeles Film & TV Festival - Best Director'' (2013) * ''Vegas Cine Fest - Best Feature First Runner Up'' (2012) * ''Indie Award - Best of Show'' (2012) * ''Indie Award - Direction'' (2012) * ''Accolade Award - Directing'' (2012) * ''Merit Award - FLIFF'' (2011) * ''Spirit of Independent Award'' (2011) * ''Accolade Award - Film'' (2009) * ''Sergio Corbucci Prize'' (2006) * ''Fulbright Award'' (2006) * ''Philip Morris Cinema Award'' (2004) * ''Philip Morris Cinema Award'' (2003) * ''Deviate NIFC'' (2002)

Film festivals official selection

* ''Long Island Int. Film Festival'' (2013) * ''Cannes Film Festival'' (2012) * ''New Filmmaker Program'' (2012) * ''Hoboken Int. Film Festival'' (2012) * ''Los Angeles Film Festival'' (2012) * ''Salento Int. Film Festival'' (2012) * ''Cine Vegas Fest'' (2012) * ''San Diego Black Film Festival'' (2012) * ''Big Island International Film Festival'' (2012) * ''

Hoboken International Film Festival The Hoboken International Film Festival is an annual festival that promotes domestic and international television pilots, screenplays, non-studio films. Awards, with cash prizes, are given for the best submissions. The festival was founded by Kennet ...

'' (2012) * ''Fantafilmfestival'' (2012) * ''Daytona Beach Film Festival'' (2011) * ''Bahamas International Film Festival'' (2011) * ''Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival'' (2011) * ''Cannes Film Festival'' (2011) * ''Rome International Film Festival'' (2011) * ''Screamfest'' (2009 and 2010) * ''LA Shorts Film Festival'' (2009) * ''European Film Festival'' (2006) * ''RIFF'' (2005) * ''Instanbul International Film Festival'' (2004) * ''European Film Festival'' (2003)

Filmography (director)

* ''Struck in the 80s'' TV Mini Series (2023) * ''Beverly Hills Christmas 2, Director's Cut'' (2021) * ''This is Our Christmas'' (2018) * ''Red Wine & Gold'' music video (2018) * ''Silver Case'' (2012) * ''Tangled'' (2010) * ''Swifty & Veg'' (2010) * ''White Widow'' (2009) * ''Narcissus Dreams'' (2009) * ''Thermae'' (2006) * ''Il rigore più lungo del mondo'' (2004) * ''Silver Nail'' (2003) * ''Distretto di polizia'' - 2nd unit director (4 episodes, 2003)

Filmography (writer)

* ''Struck in the 80s'' TV Mini Series (2023) * ''Beverly Hills Christmas 2, Director's Cut'' (2018) * ''This is Our Christmas'' (2021) * ''Silver Case'' (2011) * ''Swifty & Veg'' (2010) * ''Narcissus Dreams'' (2009) * ''White Widow'' (2009) * ''Thermae'' (2006) * ''Il rigore più lungo del mondo'' (2004) * ''Silver Nail'' (2003)

Filmography (producer)

* ''Hellfire'' (2024) * ''Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose'' (2023) * ''Christmas Couples Retreat'' (2023) * ''The Genius of Gianni Versace'' (2023) * ''Struck in the 80s'' TV Mini Series (2023) * ''The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive'' (2022) * ''Beverly Hills Christmas 2, Director's Cut'' (2021) * ''A Place Called Hollywood'' (2019) * ''Shepherd: The Story of Jewish Dog'' (2019) * ''This is Our Christmas'' (2018) * ''Beverly Hills Christmas'' (2015) * ''A Place Called Hollywood'' TV Mini Series (2014) * ''Silver Case'' (2011) * ''The Wishmakers'' (2011) * ''Swifty & Veg'' (2010) * ''Tangled'' (2010) * ''Narcissus Dreams'' (2009) * ''White Widow'' (2009) * ''Silver Nail'' (2003)

Filmography (cinematograher)

* ''Christmas Couples Retreat'' (2023) * ''Struck in the 80s'' (2023) * ''This is Our Christmas 2, Director's Cut'' (2021) * ''Magic Max'' (2019) * ''This is Our Christmas'' (2018) * ''Beverly Hills Christmas'' (2015) * ''Un Giorno a Roma'' Documentary (2012) * ''Silver Case'' (2011)

References

External links

*
Official Christian Filippella site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Filippella, Christian Italian film directors 1975 births Living people Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia alumni