Matteo Balsamo was born in Broni in 1977. He began his career as an actor, performing in theatrical productions, docufilm, short films, and major feature films, including Gennaro Nunziante’s Cado dalle nubi, Michele Placido’s Vallanzasca – Angels of Evil, and Gianfranco Gaioni’s Solo per il weekend. Transitioning behind the camera, he went on to direct commercials, short films, music videos, and the web series E-114, which earned him international and domestic acclaim. His directorial approach seamlessly blends an auteurist vision with multi-disciplinary skills in screenwriting, acting, and editing, placing a strong emphasis on emotional authenticity and visual storytelling. He has directed numerous independent projects, including Violated Souls (2025), premiered at Visioni dal Mondo; In the Mind's Garden (2022), selected for the Warsaw International Film Festival; and On the Front Line (2020), which won an award at the International Filmmaker Festival of New York. Additionally, he has collaborated with the Embassy of Kuwait to create institutional audiovisual projects dedicated to cultural promotion.
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The Avignon International Film Festival is dedicated to discovering and promoting filmmakers from around the world.
Each year, the festival selects films from dozens of countries through a structured process combining monthly selections and an annual competition.
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