MASSIMO CRISTALDI E SOCIETA’

MASSIMO CRISTALDI’S BIO and COMPANY FILMOGRAPHY

Massimo Cristaldi began his career in film production in 1976 when he started work as a production assistant for his father, legendary Italian producer Franco Cristaldi, in the family business Vides Cinematografica (from 1980 known as CRISTALDIFILM). He quickly graduated to Unit Manager and over the next seven years learned his craft on around 20 features.

From 1983 he worked as both a Production Manager and Production Supervisor on many features and television productions involving renowned Italian and international directors, including Federico Fellini, Giuseppe Tornatore, Franceso Rosi, Gillo Pontecorvo, Sergio Corbucci, Nanni Loy, Luigi Magni, Giuliano Montaldo, Duccio Tessari, Marco Vicario, Carlo Carlei, Sergei Bondarchuk, Alexandre Arcady, Michael Anderson.

Following the death of his father in 1992, Massimo Cristaldi took over CRISTALDIFILM and still oversees the sales of its famous film library of films produced by Franco Cristaldi.
The actors, writers and directors of these films represent a roll-call of the greatest exponents of the cinema arts and industry, not only in Italy but internationally, producing classic titles including Divorce-Italian Style, Amarcord, Cinema Paradiso, Big Deal on Madonna Street, Salvatore Giuliano, The Mattei Affair, Seduced and Abandoned, The Name of the Rose.
Besides countless Italian and European awards, CRISTALDIFILM is a three-time Academy Award (Oscar) winner: twice for Best Foreign Language Picture with Federico Fellini’s Amarcord and Giuseppe Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso, following an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay with Pietro Germi’s Divorce Italian Style.
With the acquisition of the well-known Italian distribution company Lux Film in 1996, Massimo Cristaldi enlarged the already substantial CRISTALDIFILM catalogue to nearly 250 films many of which are regarded as milestones in Italian film history.
Further information on CRISTALDIFILM can be found at www.cristaldifilm.com

Massimo Cristaldi is a member of the European Film Academy and of the Accademia del Cinema Italiano (David di Donatello).

From 1997 to 2002 Massimo Cristaldi served as President of the APC (Italian Association of Independent Producers), then later merged into ANICA (National Association of Cinematographic, Audiovisual and Multimedia Industries).

In 1993 he founded CRISTALDI PICTURES, building on the foundation established by his father and continuing Franco Cristaldi’s entrepreneurial approach to film-making, focusing on both quality and commercial criteria, thus merging art with industry.

In 2014 Massimo Cristaldi founded CRISTALDI PICS for which he produced:

Sicilian Ghost Story – (2017) – Written and directed by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza
An Italian/French/Swiss coproduction: Cristaldi Pics – Indigo Film / Mact Productions – JPG Films / Ventura Film
Opening film of La Semaine de la Critique – Cannes Film Festival 2017
London Film Festival 2017
Chicago Film Festival 2017
David di Donatello 2018 – Best Adapted Screenplay
Nastro d’Argento (Silver Ribbon) 2017 – Best Photography
Nastro d’Argento (Silver Ribbon) 2017 – Best Production Design
Four Nominations – David di Donatello 2018
Four Nominations, including Best Producer – Nastri d’Argento (Silver Ribbon) 2017

CRISTALDI PICTURES productions include:

Salvo – (2013) – Written and directed by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza
An Italian/French coproduction: Cristaldi Pictures – Acaba Produzioni /Mact Productions – Cité Films
Grand Prix and Prix Révélation Semaine de la Critique – Cannes Film Festival 2013
Fipresci Award – Lyublyana IFF – 2013
Best European Debut – Cinergia European Cinema Forum, Lodz 2013
In competition in about 55 International Film Festivals in 2013 and 2014
Italian Golden Globe – Best Actress Sara Serraiocco 2014
Nastro d’Argento (Silver Ribbon) – Best Photography Daniele Ciprì 2014
Four Nominations, including Best Producer – David di Donatello2014
Four Nominations, including Best Producer – Nastri d’Argento (Silver Ribbon) 2014
Two Nominations Italian Golden Globes 2014

Tiberio Mitri – The Boxer and The Beauty Queen – (2011) – TV miniseries (2×100’)
Directed by Angelo Longoni – A Cristaldi Pictures / Raifiction co-production
Starring Luca Argentero and Martina Stella
Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo (Official Competition) 2012
RomaFictionFest 2012 – Special Mention for the Screenplay

Rita – (2009) – 16’ Short Film
Written and Directed by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza
110 International Festivals, 37 Awards among which:
Festival Premiers Plans d’Angers: Prix Arte
Aspen Short Films Festival: Best Directing Award
La Semaine de la Critique – Cannes 2010: Official Selection
Edinburgh International Film Festival: Best Short Film
Brooklyn Film Festival: Best Short Film

L’Amour caché – (2007) –
Directed by Alessandro Capone – An Italy/Luxembourg/Belgium co-production
Starring Isabelle Huppert, Mélanie Laurent, Greta Scacchi, Olivier Gourmet
Toronto International Film Festival (Visions ) 2007
Rome Film Festival (Official Competition ) 2007

La Pacificazione – (2006) – 15’ Short film – Directed by Tommaso Rossellini

The Geometry of Love – (2005) – 60’ Documentary from the book by Margaret Visser
Directed by Paul Carvalho – Production service in Rome for Les Producions Colin Neale

Our Italian Husband – (2003) –
Written and Directed by Ilaria Borrelli – A Cristaldi Pictures production in association with Medusa Film
Starring Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Pierfrancesco Favino, Brooke Shields, Chevy Chase
Italian Film Festival – Mexico (2004): Best Picture Award

Submerged – (2001) – TV movie (100’) for NBC (prime time May 20, 2001)
Directed by James Keach – Production Services in Italy and Malta for Once Upon A Time Films Ltd
Starring Sam Neill

Dio ci ha creato gratis – (1998/1999) – TV miniseries (2×100′)
Written and Directed by Elvio Porta – A Cristaldi Pictures production for Mediaset (Channel 5)
Based on the best-seller by Marcello D’Orta
Starring Leo Gullotta and Nino Manfredi

Passage to Paradise (Passaggio per il Paradiso) – (1996)
Directed by Antonio Baiocco – An Italian/French co-production
Starring Julie Harris and Tcheky Karyo
Executive producer: David Bowie – Music: Pat Metheny
The Montreal World Film Festival (1996) (Official Competition):
Mention spéciale du Jury Oecuménique
Fort Lauderdale Film Festival (1996) (Official Competition):
Best Music – Best Production in a Foreign Film

The Italians are Coming (Arrivano gli Italiani) – (1995)
Directed by Eyal Halfon – An Italian/Israeli co-production
Starring Franco Nero and Asher Tzarfati

The Roots of the Future: Alexander Dubcek – (1994) – Documentary film
Directed by Alessandro Giupponi