Focus
Massimiliano Narciso, Lead Character Designer at Netflix and Oscar winner
Italy didn't win the Oscar, but an Italian did. Massimiliano Narciso is the character designer of "War is Over "- inspired by the music of John & Yoko, which won the award for Best Animated [...]
Gianfranco Cordara
Gianfranco Cordara is a journalist, writer, and media executive with years of experience in the entertainment industry. He recently served as VP of Global Content Operations for Disney+. Before that, he was the Head [...]
In Conversation with Federico Francioni
Meet Federico Francioni, the Head of the Digital Ecosystem for Meta, the powerhouse behind Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and, more recently, Quest devices and Threads. Born in Arezzo in 1982, Federico has an impressive background [...]
In conversation with Vaun Wilmott
Today's interview opens a series of FOCUS dedicated to US and Italian Audiovisual Industry talents and executives. Our first 'guest' is Vaun Wilmott, showrunner, screenwriter, author, and producer of successes such as Star Trek, Dominion, [...]
Sean and Bryan Furst
Independent movie producers, TV producers, IP hunters, storytelling junkies... and brothers. Those are, in a nutshell, the adjectives describing Sean and Bryan Furst. The Fursts started in the Nineties with such pictures as Miramax's hitman [...]
In Conversation with Niccolo Messina, Founder of V Channels
Niccolò Messina doesn't love movies, "They put my brain on pause." He doesn't appreciate Hollywood, "It is always behind." Still, Italian entrepreneur Niccolò Messina may hold the key to preserving independent cinema in the streaming [...]
Interview with Dario Di Zanni
Dario Di Zanni is a serial entrepreneur and product manager with significant experience in the interactive entertainment sector. He co-founded Kinetic Energy and previously worked for companies such as Disney and AMC. Throughout his career, he has contributed to the development of digital and physical products, including Disney's first direct-to-consumer product, laying the foundation for numerous successful digital businesses. Dario, you started your career managing marketing roles and driving growth in the Italian publishing industry at Mondadori. How did [...]
Stefania Ippoliti President Of Tuscany Film Commission
Stefania Ippoliti, born in Florence, pursued her legal studies in her hometown and currently resides there while working. Since 2006, she has spearheaded the Cinema division and the implementation of regional policies for audiovisual production at Mediateca Toscana's Film Commission. Formerly Italian Film Commission president, she now serves as the head of the Tuscany Film Commission. Over the past two decades, local Film Commissions have emerged as indispensable tools for Italian and international content production. They offer crucial support, locations, [...]
Interview with Maura Delpero
Maura Delpero, an Italian director and screenwriter, is one of the most compelling voices in contemporary cinema. Her latest film, Vermiglio, has been nominated for Best Non-English Film at the Golden Globes. We met her in Los Angeles just days before the announcement, where she was promoting Vermiglio, Italy's official submission for the 2025 Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category. With a career marked by prestigious awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, [...]
Clayton Townsend: Navigating Cinema from Blockbusters to Independent Stories
Production veteran Clayton Townsend took his first steps on a film set as a teenager. Born in 1961 in Cleveland, Ohio, he soon moved to New York and later Los Angeles to pursue his passion for filmmaking. His career spans cinematic classics with acclaimed directors like Oliver Stone (Born on the Fourth of July (1989), The Doors (1991), Natural Born Killers (1994)), the Coen Brothers (Intolerable Cruelty (2003)), celebrated comedies such as Bridesmaids (2011) and Zoolander (2001), and blockbuster action [...]
