Marco Amenta

Marco Amenta (Palermo, 11 August 1970) is an italian director, producer and photojournalist.

After attenting the Liceo Classico Umberto I di Palermo, Amenta started his career in “Il Giornale di Sicilia” as photojournalist.

In 1992 he moved to Paris where he obtained the Degree in Cinematography from the University Paris 8 and where worked for agencies and magazines, making many short films in film.

During the war in ex-Yugoslavia he filmed the documentary "Born in Bosnia" for French TV, presented at the festival "Palermocinema" and another documentary in Cuba, "Lettre de Cuba", winner of the French "Rouletabille" for young filmmakers.

In 1995 he produced and directed the documentary film "Diary of a Sicilian Rebel”, official selection (out of competition) at the “54th Venice Film Festival." The film won 21 international awards, including 1st prize International Festival "50th Prix Italia" - 1st prize "Medianet Award" International Festival of Monaco di Baviera - 1st prize "Le Nombre d'Or" International Festival of Amsterdam -- 1st prize "Festival Internazionale del Cinema di Troia" (Lisbon) - 1st Prize "International Festival of Montevideo (Uruguay) - 1st Prize" International Festival of Carolina "(USA) - Certificate of Merit at the" Festival of Int San Francisco (USA) - Special Jury Prize at the "International Festival in Houston (USA) - 2nd PRIZE" International Festival of Monte Carlo”. Is also prime time broadcast by RAI TV and 30 worldwide.

In 2004 wrote and directed the documentary "The Last Godfather", an Italo-French cooproduction, with Mediterranean Films and ARTE France, sold to television in Norway, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland and many other countries.

== The Ghost Of Corleone == [modifica]

In 2005 he directed "The Ghost of Corleone", documentary film about life and hunting to Bernardo Provenzano, produced by Eurofilm in co-production with ARD-Germany and ARTE France. Purchased by RAI Cinema and SKY Italia. Released in cinemas on 30 March 2006, obtained a considerable success with the public and critics and Nomination to the "Golden Globes" 2006 and "Nastri d'Argento" in 2007 as best documentary released in cinemas in Italy. Received, in addition, the award "Best Production 2006" in The AltroCinema FF and Etruria Cinema in 2007.

== The Sicilian Girl == [modifica]

On February 2009, came out in cinemas across Italy his debut film "The Sicilian girl", after it was successfully presented at the “Rome International Film Festival”. The film, which Amenta also wrote the screenplay along with Sergio Donati, is inspired by the story of Rita Atria. Produced by R&C, Eurofilm, Roissy Films and Rai Cinema and distributed by Istituto Luce, the film sees one of its most important interpreters Gérard Jugnot, Veronica D'Agostino and Marcello Mazzarella. For "The Sicilian girl" Amenta has deservedly received 2 Nominations for “David di Donatello” for Best Debut Director and for Best Italian Film “David Young”. An important recognition that it adds to the already numerous awards that the director had recently received as the prize for best director at Miami Sicilian Film Festival (where the protagonist of The Sicilian girl, Veronica D'agostino, was awarded like best actress). Furthermore, the victory of Strait of Messina Film Festival like best movie, the prize "Siciliani ad hoc" received in Castelvetrano and the "Special Prize signs, words and images to the legality" received in Verona. The film disembark in France in mid May, after the warm reception received in Italy.

== Banker To The Poor == [modifica]

Amenta is currently working on his new film "Banker of the Poor", based on the international bestseller which in 2001 he owns the worldwide and exclusive film and television rights along with Eurofilm Company s.r.l. The movie tells the story of Muhammad Yunus, a Bengali economist and banker, inventor of microcredit and Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 along with his Grameen Bank. For the script of his Banker to the Poor, written together with the famous Sergio Donati, Amenta was rewarded by Robert De Niro at the Tribeca Festival flm. Marco Amenta, Simonetta Amenta and her Eurofilm Company, have purchased the film rights before the Professor Yunus won the Nobel and was unknown to most people.