In Conversation with Paolo Virzì (Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025)
ITA311 Italian Cinema: Comedies and Comedians will be welcoming award-winning director and producer Paolo Virzì, who will be joining them virtually on Wednesday, November 5!
The talk begins at 2pm; please email the instructor, Dr. Paola Bernardini at paola.bernardini@utoronto.ca for the Zoom registration details.
Everyone is welcome to join!
Paolo Virzì, an Italian filmmaker, began his career as a screenwriter and made his directorial debut in 1994 with La bella vita. Known for his poetic film style, Virzì's works often blend melancholy, irony, and social drama, portraying Italian society over the past thirty years. Some of his productions include: Ovosodo (1997, Grand Jury Prize at Venice); My Name is Tanino (2002); Caterina va in città (2003); N - lo e Napoleone (2006); Tutta la vita davanti / The Whole Life Ahead (2008), and Every Blessed Day (2012).
In 2017, he directed The Leisure Seeker, which competed at the 74th Venice Film Festival, starring Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren (nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress). He has received numerous awards, including seven David di Donatello awards and eight Nastri d’Argento (Silver Ribbon) awards. He has been nominated twice for the EFA’s Best European Director award (for La prima cosa bella and Il capitale umano / Human Capital) and has represented Italy twice at the Oscars.
