Mattador Award Competition

 

The MATTADOR Cultural Association opens the 17th MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award dedicated to Matteo Caenazzo, a young talented artist from Trieste who passed away prematurely on 28th June 2009 while studying and working with the aim of embarking on a career as a screenwriter.
The Award is open to Italian and foreign young authors aged from 16 to 30. It includes five sections:

• MATTADOR Award for Best Feature-Film Screenplay.
• MATTADOR Award for Best Story.
• MATTADOR Series Award for best TV Series project.
• DOLLY Award “Screenwriting with Pictures” for Best Story illustrated through Images. 
• CORTO86 Award for Best Short-Film Screenplay.

The following prizes will be awarded:

• MATTADOR Award for best feature-film screenplay: 5,000 Euros*.
• MATTADOR Award for best story: 1,500 Euros*. The top finalists will be awarded a Training Grant and will be supervised by professional screenwriters in developing their projects. At the end of the training programme the best-developed story will be awarded 1,500 Euros.
• MATTADOR Series Award for best TV Series project: 1,000 Euros*. The finalists, awarded with a Training Grant, will be accompanied by professional screenwriters in developing their projects. At the end of the training course, the best development work will receive a prize of 1,000 euros*.
• DOLLY “Screenwriting with Pictures” Award for best story portrayed visually. The winner will be awarded a Training Grant and will be tutored by professionals in developing his/her story according to the original idea, leading to the preparation of a complete dossier for a feature or animated film project. At the conclusion of the training programme, depending on the results achieved, an additional prize of 1,000 Euros* may be awarded.
• CORTO86 Award for best short-film screenplay, offers a Training Grant and the production of a short film based on the winning short-film screenplay. The author will be supervised by professional tutors throughout the pre-production, shooting and post-production stages. He/she will sign the direction of the film.

The winning projects will be published in the editorial series “Scrivere le immagini. Quaderni di sceneggiatura” (EUT/Mattador).
Works must be sent exclusively online on the https://iscrizioni.premiomattador.it/ platform starting from 15^th February 2026. The subscription fee is confirmed. The delivery deadline is 15^th April 2026.
The Award Ceremony of the 17^th MATTADOR Competition will take place on Friday 17^thJuly 2026 in Venice in the Sale Apollinee of the Teatro La Fenice.

*Subject to withholding tax under Article 30 of Presidential Decree DPR 29/9/73 n.600

 

Advisory Committee Members
Mauro Rossi – Former Head of EUT Edizioni Università Trieste, President of  the Advisory Committee
Elena Bertocchi – Teacher of History – Nordio Art School, Trieste
Elisabetta Brusa – Director Fucina Performing Arts – Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Laura Carlini Fanfogna – Former Director of Museum and Library Services, Trieste 
Paola di Biagi – Professor of Urban Planning –  University of Trieste
Fulvio Falzarano – Actor
Francesca Fiorentini – Coordinator of smaTS University Museum System – University of Trieste
Armando Fumagalli – Director of the  Master in International Screenwriting and Production – Catholic University of Milan
Maria Stella Malafronte – Journalist
Gianluca Novel – FVG Film Commission, Trieste
Federico Poillucci – Film Producer
Stella Rasman – Journalist, Film Critic
Pierluigi Sabatti – Journalist, President of  the Trieste Press Club
Elisabetta Vezzosi – Professor of  History of the United States –  University of Trieste

 

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JURY 2025-2026
Andrea De Sica – Director,  Jury President
Habib Mestiri – Director and Producer
Giuditta Tarantelli  – Screenwriter
Gianfilippo Pedote – Producer and Director
Claudia De Angelis  – Screenwriter, 2015 Mattador Award Winner

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2026
Costantinopoli by Sim Levi Tezel – Best Screenplay Award
Le portatrici by Giovanna De Luca, Erica Benvenuti – Winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
La colonia by Andrea Cantafio – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Madda by Andrea Maddalena Bernardi – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Superpensionati by Elisa Gattuso, Matteo Fasan, Mariam Ugolini –   Winners of the SERIES Training Grant
Altitudine 1079  by Chiara Marta Federica Sofia Cappiello – Winner of the SERIES Training Grant
I Sobros by Sara Elizabeth Dui – Winner of the DOLLY Training Grant
Santissimi by Giacomo Collesei – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY section
In questo freddo by Jacopo Milani – Winner of the CORTO86 Training Grant

 

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JURY 2024-2025
Federica Pontremoli – Screenwriter and Director,  Jury President
Roland Sejko – Director,  Archivio Luce Cinecittà
Graziella Bildesheim  – Film Producer, President of EWA European Women’s Audiovisual Network
Marta Maffucci – Production Designer
Lorenzo Bagnatori  – Screenwriter, 2017 Mattador Award Winner

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2025
Sante profane by Federico Amenta – Best Screenplay Award
Il ricamatoio by Chiara Dario – Best project development and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Nilde al mare by Anita Colombo, Michela Mazzaferro – Winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Punto di rottura by Federico Politi, Leonardo Gaspa, Sofia Ranise – Winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
BodyCount by Vincenzo Cardona Albini –   Winner of the SERIES Training Grant
Pèter by Marco Pozzato – Winner of the SERIES Training Grant
Il favoloso viaggio di Telly by Valentina Vignoli – Best project development and winner of the DOLLY Training Grant
La risacca by Chiara Benedetti – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY section 

Tutors 2024-2025
Daniele Auber  – Concept Designer
Vinicio Canton – Story Editor, Screenwriter
Maurizio Careddu  –  Screenwriter
Diego Cenetiempo – Director
Alejandro De La Fuente – Screenwriter, Script Doctor
Andrea Magnani – Screenwriter, Producer, Director
Monica Mariani – Screenwriter
Gianluca Novel – Location Manager
Alessandra Pastore – Project Manager of LAND (Italy)
Giuditta Tarantelli – Film Producer, Director

 

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MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2023
Nuvole ferme by Giulio Faccini – Best Screenplay Ex-aequo Award 
Pallade Lola by Rebecca Maglie –Best Screenplay Ex-aequo Award 
Anche Nina vuole morire by Miranda Angeli – Ex-aequo best project development and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Pesce fuor d’acqua by Chiara De Angelis and Alice Sagrati – Ex-aequo best project development and winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Sofia non piange mai by Laura Pinato – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Le forzate by Sofia Cocumazzo e Laura Pinato – Winner of the SERIES Training Grant
Il bel mondo by Edoardo Carboni e Daniele Morelli – Winner of the SERIES Training Grant
Filigrana by Cecilia Chiappetto – Best project development and winner of the DOLLY Training Grant
Mic Drop by Federica Corti e Pierpaolo Moscatello – Special Mention for the SERIES Section
Stay Joy by Martina Alice Valenti – Special Mention for the DOLLY Section

Tutors 2022-2023
Daniele Auber  – Concept Designer
Vinicio Canton – Story Editor, Screenwriter
Maurizio Careddu  –  Screenwriter
Alejandro De La Fuente – Screenwriter, Script Doctor
Andrea Magnani – Screenwriter, Producer, Director
Gianluca Novel – Location Manager

 

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JURY 2020-2021
Enzo Monteleone – Screenwriter, Director, Jury President
Elisabetta Trautteur – Delegate producer, Head of development
Gianluca Novel – Friuli Venezia Giulia Film Commission
Davide Lisino –Screenwriter, Writer
Valentina Strada – Screenwriter

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2021
Matteo Brembani, impiegato della memoria by Costanza Bongiorni – Best Screenplay Award and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
La strada per l’isola by Diletta Dan and Rebecca Gatti – Winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Quel che ci hai lasciato by Eleonora Galasso and Simone Pietro Ruocco – Best project development and winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Necrologie a domicilio by Niccolò Gangi de Thierry – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Fine partita by Luca Leone – Best Screenplay for short film Award CORTO86
Luce by Irene Sarà – Best project development and winner of the DOLLY Training Grant
Comunist* by Davide Crudetti – Special Mention for the BEST STORY Section

Tutors 2020-21
Daniele Auber  – Concept Designer
Stefano Bessoni –  Director, Illustrator, Teacher of Stop-Motion Animation
Vinicio Canton  – Story Editor, Screenwriter
Maurizio Careddu  – Screenwriter
Alejandro De La Fuente – Screenwriter, Script Doctor 
Andrea Magnani  –  Screenwriter, Producer, Director
Gianluca Novel – Location Manager
Matteo Oleotto  – Director and Actor
Alessandra Pastore – Project Manager LAND Local Audiovisual Network & Development

 

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JURY 2019-2020
Wilma Labate – Director, Jury President
Armando Fumagalli – Director of the  Master in International Screenwriting and Production – Catholic University of Milan
Andrea Rocco – Board member Cineuropa – Bruxelles
Tamara Prandi – Story editor, delegate producer Cattleya
Sara Cavosi – Screenwriter, teathrical and radio author

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2020
Oltre la terra che fuma by Sara Parentini – Best Screenplay Award and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Il diario rosso by Alessandra Martellini – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY Section
La differenza by Michele Gallone – Ex-aequo best project development and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Come un fiore d’acciaio by Lorenzo Garofalo – Ex-aequo best project development and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Fare il morto by Camilla Maino – Best Screenplay for short film Award CORTO86
Mefisto by Virginia Carucci – Winner of the DOLLY Training Grant

Tutors 2019-20
Daniele Auber  – Concept Designer
Stefano Bessoni –  Director, Illustrator, Teacher of Stop-Motion Animation
Vinicio Canton  – Story Editor, Screenwriter
Maurizio Careddu  – Screenwriter
Alejandro De La Fuente – Screenwriter, Script Doctor 
Andrea Magnani  –  Screenwriter, Producer, Director
Gianluca Novel – Location Manager
Matteo Oleotto  – Director and Actor
Alessandra Pastore – Project Manager LAND Local Audiovisual Network & Development

 

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JURY 2018-2019
Gianluca Arcopinto – Film Producer, Jury President
Valentina Pedicini – Director
Giampiero Rigosi – Novelist and Screenwriter
Tonino Zera – Set Designer
Francesca Scanu – Set Designer, Film Producer

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2019
Giugno by Paolo Bontempo, Andrea Bondioli, Stefano Origgi, Gianluca Dario Rota – Best Screenplay Award and winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Prognosi Riservata by Francesco Logrippo, Giorgio Maria Nicolai Mastrofrancesco – Winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Tutto si trasforma di Giulia Betti, Mattia Gradali – Best project development and winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Un paese diviso di Fu JiaLiang – Best project development and winner of the DOLLY Training Grant
Grado Zero di Matteo Borsato, Emma Bresciani, Diletta Meoni, Roberto Todone – Special Mention for the DOLLY Section 

Tutors 2018-19
Daniele Auber  – Concept Designer
Stefano Bessoni –  Director, Illustrator, Teacher of Stop-Motion Animation
Vinicio Canton  – Story Editor, Screenwriter
Maurizio Careddu  – Screenwriter
Alejandro De La Fuente – Screenwriter, Script Doctor 
Andrea Magnani  –  Screenwriter, Producer, Director
Gianluca Novel – Location Manager

 

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Jury 2017-2018
Mirko Locatelli – Director, Screenwriter, Film Producer, Jury President
Marina Zangirolami Mazzacurati – Coordinator of the Teaching Team – Carlo Mazzacurati Master in Screenwriting
Giampiero Rigosi – Novelist, Screenwriter, Educational Director – Bottega Finzioni
Andrea Sperandio – Developer of Lucky Red projects
Lorenzo Mattotti – Cartoonist, Illustrator

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2018
Lòcch by Luca Mastrogiovanni – Best Screenplay Award and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Il poeta di varietà by Francesco Alino Guerra – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY Section
Cagnudei by Alessandro Padovani – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
È tutta colpa nostra by Mary Stella Brugiati e Alessandro Bosi – Best project development and winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Sulla Sabbia by Enrico Maria Riccobene – Best Screenplay for short film Award CORTO86
Il muro by Jacopo De Giuseppe – Best project development and winner of the DOLLY Training Grant
M.Ugo by Gaia Petra Sana  – Special Mention for the DOLLY section

Tutors 2017-2018
Daniele Auber  – Concept Designer
Stefano Bessoni  – Director, Illustrator, Teacher of stop-motion animation
Vinicio Canton  – Screenwriter
Maurizio Careddu  – Screenwriter
Alejandro De La Fuente – Screenwriter, Script Doctor
Andrea Magnani  – Screenwriter, Producer and Director
Gianluca Novel – Location Manager
Matteo Oleotto  – Director, Manager
Alessandra Pastore – Project Manager – LAND Local Audiovisual Network & Develop

 

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Jury 2016-2017
Pupi Avati – Director, Screenwriter, Writer, Film Prodoucer, Jury President
Marina Zangirolami Mazzacurati – Coordinator of the Teaching Team – Carlo Mazzacurati Master in Screenwriting
Salvatore De Mola – Film and Fiction Screenwriter, Professor
Emilia Bandel – Film Producer of Cinemaundici,  Cinema Professor
Stefano Bessoni – Film Director, Illustrator, Teacher of stop-motion animation

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2017
Titano by Vincenzo Cascone e Lorenzo Ongaro – Best Screenplay Award and winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
100 by Ilaria Pedoni e Adriano Ricci – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY Section
Faccia di gomma by Lorenzo Bagnatori – Best project development and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
In umana concezione by Aurora Piaggesi – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
La serata perfetta by Daniele Napoli – Best Screenplay for short film Award CORTO86
RearViewMirror by Riccardo Marchetto – Special Mention for the CORTO86 Section
YS – La città del silenzio by William Perera – Best project development and winner of the DOLLY Training Grant

Tutors 2016-2017
Daniele Auber – Concept Designer
Stefano Bessoni  – Film Director, Illustrator and Teacher of stop-motion animation
Maurizio Careddu  – Story Editor, Screenwriter
Giulio Kirchmayr – Executive Producer
Andrea Magnani – Screenwriter, Film Producer, Director
Gianluca Novel – Location Manager
Matteo Oleotto – Director, Actor
Giovanni Robbiano – Screenwriter, Director
Nicos Panayotopoulos – Screenwriter, Writer

 

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Jury 2015-2016
Ivan Cotroneo – Author, Screenwriter,  Director, Jury President
Armando Fumagalli – Director of the  Master in International Screenwriting and Production – Catholic University of Milan
Alessandro Rossetto – Director, Documentary Filmmaker
Simonetta Amenta – Eurofilm Producer
Stefano Bessoni – Director, Illustrator 

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2016
ll Piano del Coyote by Luca Arseni e Giuseppe Brigante – Best Screenplay Award and winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Il Grande Buio by Marco Ori – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY Section
Bingo by Serena Pia Perla e Giulio Rizzo – Winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Cono d’Ombra by Luca Mastrogiovanni – Best project development and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Ascolta i tuoi occhi by Marcello Pedretti – Best Screenplay of the short film Award CORTO86
Don’t stop creating by Camilla Scignano – Best project development and winner of the DOLLY Training Grant

Tutors 2015-2016
Daniele Auber – Concept Designer
Maurizio Careddu – Story Editor, Screenwriter
Giulio Kirchmayr – Executive Producer
Andrea Magnani – Screenwriter, Producer, Director
Nicos Panayotopoulos – Screenwriter, Writer
Pavel Jech – Screenwriter, Director of FAMU, Prague

 

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Jury 2014-2015
Stefano Mordini – Film Director, Jury President
Monica Mariani – Screenwriter
Alessandro Corsetti – Script Editor – Rai Cinema
Davide Toffolo – Screenwriter, Illustrator
Gianpaolo Smiraglia – Film Producer

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2015
Haifai by Riccardo Marchetto – Best Screenplay Award and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Timelapse by Pier Lorenzo Pisano – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY Section
King of the road by Claudia De Angelis – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Parla in silenzio by Camilla Buizza – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
L’amor fu by Sara Cavosi e Fabio Marson – Best project development and winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Consigli pre-appuntamento dal futuro by Giacomo Caceffo – Best Screenplay for short film Award CORTO86
Doppelgänger by Pedro Dias – Winner of the DOLLY Training Grant
Noa noa by Chiara Ionta – Winner of the DOLLY Training Grant

Tutors 2014-2015
Daniele Auber – Concept Designer
Vinicio Canton – Screenwriter
Maurizio Careddu – Story Editor, Screenwriter
Laura Cotta Ramosino – Story Editor, Screenwriter
Dante Palladino – Screenwriter
Nicos Panayotopoulos – Screenwriter, Writer
Pavel Jech – Screenwriter, Director of FAMU, Prague

 

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Jury 2013-2014
Barbara Petronio – Screenwriter, Member of WGI (Writers Guild Italia) Board, Jury President
Armando Fumagalli – Director of the Master in International Screenwriting and Production – Catholic University of Milan
Luca Lucini – Director
Daniele Orazi – Founding Partner of Consorzio Officine Artistiche
Gianpaolo Smiraglia – Film Producer

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2014
Crisci ranni by Giulio Poidomani – Best Screenplay Award
The show must go on by Roberto Moliterni – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY Section
L’abito migliore by Francesco Alessandro Galassi – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Da domani cambio vita by Gianluca Nocenti – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Il borgo by Mirko Ingrassia e Marcello Bisogno – Best project development and winners of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Bagaglio in eccesso by Mariachiara Manci – Best Screenplay for short film Award CORTO86
Femme fatale by Leonardo Calanna – Special Mention for the CORTO86 Section

Tutors 2013-2014
Vinicio Canton – Screenwriter
Pavel Jech – Screenwriter, Director of FAMU, Prague
Nicos Panayotopoulos – Screenwriter, Writer
Laura Cotta Ramosino – Story Editor, Screenwriter

 

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Jury 2012-2013
Stefano Basso – Project Developer for Fandango
Fabrizio Borin – Professor of History of the Italian Cinema and Cinema Philology – Ca’ Foscari University, Venice
Donatella Di Benedetto – Manager for the Development of TV Cattleya
Luca Lucini – Director
Anna Stoppoloni – Screenwriter, Former Film Producer and Story Editor for RAI and Mediaset 

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2013
Entela by Francesca Maria Scanu – Best Screenplay Award
Attraverso il vetro by Lorenzo Zeppegno – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Ali di Carta by Alessandro Padovani – Best project development and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
e tu? by Giorgio Salamone – Best Screenplay for short film Award CORTO86

Tutors 2012-2013
Vinicio Canton – Screenwriter
Maurizio Careddu – Story Editor, Screenwriter
Laura Cotta Ramosino – Story Editor, Screenwriter

 

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Jury 2011-2012
Stefano Basso – Project Developer for Fandango
Giorgio Fabbri – Screenwriter
Daniele Orazi – Founding Partner of Consorzio Officine Artistiche
Annamaria Percavassi – Art Director of Trieste Film Festival
Maria Stella Malafronte – Representative of Associazione MATTADOR

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2012
Aquadro by Stefano Lodovichi e Davide Orsini – Best Screenplay Award
Il principe dei fiori by Susanna Starna – Best project development and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
La giocata by Tommaso Sala – Best Screenplay for short film Award CORTO86
Sociopatik by Giacomo Di Biasio – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Non vedo, non sento, non parlo by Francesca Scanu e Andrea Zuliani – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY Section

Tutors 2011-2012
Vinicio Canton – Screenwriter
Maurizio Careddu – Story Editor, Screenwriter

 

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Jury 2010-2011
Gianluca Arcopinto – Film Producer, Jury President
Annamaria Percavassi – Art Director of Trieste Film Festival
Paola Randi – Director
Ries Straver – Video Manager Video for Fabrica
Giulio Kirchmayr – Representative of Associazione MATTADOR

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2011
La mezza stagione by Danilo Caputo and Valentina Strada – Best Screenplay Award
Dirty Tony by Daniela Ciavarelli – Best Screenplay for short film Award CORTO86
Jail Jazz by Paolo Ottomano – Best project development and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Il lavoro dell’attore by Pietro Seghetti – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Il Caso Spampinato by Francesco Greco – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY section
Soldato Bering by Davide Orsini – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY section
Rituale d’amore by Beatrice Miano – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY section
Pixellòve by Giacomo Trevisan – Special Mention for the CORTO86 section

Tutors 2010-2011
Debora Alessi – Editor, Screenwriter
Vinicio Canton – Screenwriter
Maurizio Careddu – Editor, Screenwriter

 

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Jury 2009-2010
Alessandro Angelini – Director, Jury President
Gianluca Arcopinto – Film Producer
Fulvio Falzarano – Actor
Marcello Fois – Writer, Screenwriter
Laura Modolo – Vice President Associazione MATTADOR

MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award 2010
Istinti by Davide Stocovaz – Best Screenplay Award
In cielo passano Bob Marley by Luca Marchetti – Best project development and winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Anita by Margherita Nale – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Scelte by Diletta Demarchi – Winner of the MATTADOR Training Grant
Come un cane by Giulio La Monica – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY section
Maicol Jecson by Francesco Calabrese and Enrico Audenino – Special Mention for the SCREENPLAY section

Tutors 2009-2010
Debora Alessi – Editor, Screenwriter
Vinicio Canton – Screenwriter
Maurizio Careddu – Editor, Screenwriter