Pupi Avati

Giuseppe Avati, better known as Pupi Avati (born November 3, 1938), is an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter.

Biography

Pupi Avati was born in Bologna.

After ending his study Political Science at the Bologna university, he took on work in a frozen food company and at the same time developed a passion for jazz, becoming an amateur musician.

But with the debut of his movie "Blood Relations" ("Balsamus, l'uomo di Satana", 1968) he stepped into the business of film-making. This first movie is also one of the few that he didn't write himself. A year later his second movie "Thomas" (1969) followed, though not released in Italy, and another five years later the bizarre "La mazurka del barone, della santa e del fico fiorone" (1974), a movie in a style reminiscent of the movies of Federico Fellini with an almost fairytale-like atmosphere.

In 1975, Avati made the musical fantasy "Bordella", which caused a commotion resulting in some censorship, and a year later he directed a horror film, "The House with Laughing Windows" ("La casa dalle finestre che ridono", 1976), a movie set in the Po Valley, not far from his hometown Bologna. This movie was followed up with "Tutti defunti... tranne i morti" (1977), a black comedy with a theme very similar to his previous movie.

Avati then showed his ability to direct TV movies as well. It resulted in the two successful dramas "Jazz band" (1978) and "Cinema!!!" (1979). Sharing the same theme, his next movies, for the cinemas again, were the fairytale-like "Le strelle nel fosso" (1979), the charming "A School Outing" (Una gita scolastica) (1983), "We Three" (Noi tre) (1984), about a part of the life of Mozart, the parable "Graduation Party" (Festa di laurea) (1985), and "The Story of Boys and Girls" (Storia di ragazzi e ragazze) (1988) and "Declarations of Love" (Dichiarazioni d’amore) (1994).

Some of his most successful films were "Impiegati" (1985), "Christmas Present" ("Regalo di Natale", 1986) and "The Last Minute" ("Ultimo minuto", 1987). All these movies share a cruel and painful atmosphere, typical for Avati's movies.

His latest work, "Il cuore altrove" (2003), received the David di Donatello Award for Best Director.

Filmography

Director

* "Balsamus l'uomo di Satana" ("Blood Relations", 1970)
* "Thomas e gli indemoniati" ("Thomas and the Bewitched", 1970)
* "La mazurka del barone, della santa e del fico fiorone" (1975)
* "Bordella" ("House of Pleasure for Women", 1976)
* "La casa dalle finestre che ridono" ("The House with Laughing Windows", 1976)
* "Tutti defunti... tranne i morti" (1977)
* "Le strelle nel fosso" (1979)
* "Aiutami a sognare" ("Help Me Dream", 1981)
* "Dancing Paradise" (1982)
* "Zeder" (1983)
* "Una gita scolastica" ("A School Outing", 1983)
* "Noi tre" ("We Three", 1984)
* "Impiegati" (1984)
* "Festa di laurea" ("Graduation Party", 1985)
* "Regalo di Natale" ("Christmas Present", 1986)
* "Ultimo minuto" ("The Last Minute", 1987)
* "Sposi" ("Bride and Groom", 1987, first segment)
* "Storia di ragazzi e di ragazze" ("The Story of Boys and Girls", 1989)
* "È proibito ballare" (1989, TV)
* "Bix" (1991)
* "Fratelli e sorelle" ("Brothers and Sisters", 1991)
* "Magnificat" (1993)
* "L'amico d'infanzia" ("The Childhood Friend", 1994)
* "Dichiarazioni d'amore" ("Declarations of Love", 1994)
* "Voci notturne" ("Night Voices", 1995, mini)
* "Festival" (1996)
* "L'arcano incantatore" ("The Mysterious Enchanter", 1996)
* "Il testimone dello sposo" ("The Best Man", 1998)
* "La via degli angeli" ("A Midsummer Night's Dance", 1999)
* "I cavalieri che fecero l'impresa" ("The Knights of the Quest", 2001)
* "Il cuore altrove" ("The Heart Is Elsewhere", also known as "The Heart Is Everywhere", 2003)
* "La rivincita di Natale" ("Christmas Rematch", 2004)
* "Ma quando arrivano le ragazze?" (2004)
*"La seconda notte di nozze" (2005)
*"La cena per farli conoscere" (2007)
*"Il nascondiglio" ("The Hideout", 2007)

creenwriter

* "Thomas e gli indemoniati" ("Thomas and the Bewitched", 1970)
* "Il Bacio" ("The Kiss", 1974, directed by Mario Lanfranchi)
* "La mazurka del barone, della santa e del fico fiorone" (1975)
* "Cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco" (also known as "Il Dracula in Brianza" or "Dracula in the Provinces", 1975, directed by Lucio Fulci)
* "Bordella" ("House of Pleasure for Women", 1976)
* "La casa dalle finestre che ridono" ("The House with the Windows That Laugh", 1976)
* "Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma" ("Salo, or The 120 Days of Sodom", 1976, uncredited, directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini)
* "La padrona è servita" ("The Boss Is Served", 1976, directed by Mario Lanfranchi)
* "Tutti defunti... tranne i morti" (1977)
* "Le strelle nel fosso" (1979)
* "Macabro" ("Frozen Terror", also known as "Macabre", 1980, directed by Lamberto Bava)
* "Aiutami a sognare" ("Help Me Dream", 1981)
* "Dancing Paradise" (1982)
* "Zeder" (1983)
* "Una gita scolastica" ("A School Outing", 1983)
* "Noi tre" ("We Three", 1984)
* "Impiegati" (1984)
* "Festa di laurea" ("Graduation Party", 1985)
* "Regalo di Natale" ("Christmas Present", 1986)
* "Ultimo minuto" ("The Last Minute", 1987)
* "Storia di ragazzi e di ragazze" ("The Story of Boys and Girls", 1989)
* "Bix" (1991)
* "Fratelli e sorelle" ("Brothers and Sisters", 1991)
* "Dove comincia la notte" (1991, directed by Maurizio Zaccaro)
* "Magnificat" (1993)
* "Dichiarazioni d'amore" ("Declarations of Love", 1994)
* "L'amico d'infanzia" ("The Childhood Friend", 1994)
* "La stanza accanto" ("Bitter Chamber", also known as "The Room Next Door", 1994, directed by Fabrizio Laurenti)
* "Festival" (1996)
* "L'arcano incantatore" ("The Mysterious Enchanter", 1996)
* "Il testimone dello sposo" ("The Best Man", 1998)
* "La via degli angeli" ("A Midsummer Night's Dance", 1999)
* "I cavalieri che fecero l'impresa" ("The Knights of the Quest", 2001)
* "Il cuore altrove" ("The Heart Is Elsewhere", also known as "The Heart Is Everywhere", 2003)
* "La rivincita di Natale" ("Christmas Rematch", 2004)
* "Ma quando arrivano le ragazze?" (2004)
*"La cena per farli conoscere" (2007)
*"Il nascondiglio" ("The Hideout", 2007)

Producer

* "Aiutami a sognare" (1981)
* "Storia di ragazzi e di ragazze" (1989)
* "Bix" (1991)
* "Il Sindaco" ("The Mayor, directed by Ugo Fabrizio Giordani)
* "Caro domani" (1999, directed by Mariantonio Avati, TV series)

Awards and nominations

* 1979: Golden Spike for "Le strelle nel fosso" (1979) (Valladolid Int. Film Festival)
* 1983: Nomination for IFF Award for "La casa dalle finestre che ridono" (1976) (Fantasporto)
* 1984: Silver Ribbon for "Una gita scolastica" (1983) (INS for Journalists)
** (Best Director and Best Story)
* 1985: Special Award 'FantaItaly' (Fantafestival)
* 1986: Special Prize of the Jury for "Noi tre" (1984) (Istanbul International Film Festival)
* 1990: Silver Ribbon for "Storia di ragazzi e di ragazze" (1989) (INS for Journalists)
** (Best Director and Best Screenplay)
* 1990: David for "Storia di ragazzi e di ragazze" (1989) (David di Donatello Awards)
** (Best Screenplay)
* 1991: Nomination for Golden Palm for "Bix" (1991) (Cannes Film Festival)
* 1993: Nomination for Golden Palm for "Magnificat" (1993) (Cannes Film Festival)
* 1995: Luchino Visconti Award (David di Donatello Awards)
* 1997: Silver Ribbon for "Festival" (1996/I) (INS for Journalists)
** (Best Producer)
* 1998: Jury's Choice Award for "L'arcano incantatore" (1996) (Puchon Int. Fantastic Film Festival)
* 1998: Silver Raven for "L'arcano incantatore" (1996) (Brussels Int. Festival of Fantasy Film)
* 1998: Nomination for Golden Berlin Bear for "Il testimone dello sposo" (1996) (Berlin Int. Film Festival)
* 2000: Nomination for Silver Ribbon for "La via degli angeli" (1999) (INS for Journalists)
** Best Screenplay
* 2000: Best Screenplay for "La via degli angeli" (1999) (Montreal World Film Festival)
* 2000: Grand Prix des Amériques for "La via degli angeli" (1999) (Montreal World Film Festival)
* 2003: Nominations for "Il cuore altrove" (2003) (INS for Journalists)
** (Best Director and Best Original Story)
* 2003: Nomination for Golden Palm for "Il cuore altrove" (2003) (Cannes Film Festival)
* 2003: David for "Il cuore altrove" (2003) (David di Donatello Awards)
** (Best Director)
* 2004: Nomination for David for "La rivincita di Natale" (2004) (David di Donatello Awards)
** (Best Director)

Internal links to film festivals

* Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France
* Berlin Film Festival, Berlin, Germany
* Istanbul International Film Festival, Istanbul, Turkey

ee also

* list of movie awards
* fantasy film

External links

* [http://www.cenere.com.au/files/articles/pdf/Italian_Job.pdf Interviewed by Inside Film Magazine's Phillip Cenere]