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Elio Germano

Italian actor (born 1980)


Summary

Italian actor (born 1980)

FieldValue
imageMJK 70936 Elio Germano (Favolacce, Berlinale 2020).jpg
captionGermano at the Berlinale 2020
birth_date
birth_placeRome, Italy
occupationActor
yearsactive1992–present

Elio Germano (born 25 September 1980) is an Italian actor and director. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including six David of Donatello., a Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor and a Silver Bear for Best Actor.

Life and career

Born in Rome to a Molisan family from Duronia, Province of Campobasso, Germano debuted aged twelve in Castellano e Pipolo's movie Ci hai rotto papà (1992). During his studies at scientific lyceum, he received acting training at Teatro Azione in Rome. In 1999, he abandoned an opportunity to work in theatre with Giancarlo Cobelli in order to play in Carlo Vanzina's film Il cielo in una stanza, which launched Germano as one of the most popular Italian actors. His big break came in 2007, when he was cast as the lead in the successful movies Fallen Heroes and My Brother is an Only Child by Daniele Luchetti. The following year he first received international recognition by winning the Shooting Stars Award at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival.

Germano worked with numerous directors such as Ettore Scola (Unfair Competition), Emanuele Crialese (Respiro), Gianluca Maria Tavarelli (Break Free), Giovanni Veronesi (What Will Happen to Us), Michele Placido (Romanzo Criminale), Gabriele Salvatores (Quo Vadis, Baby?, As God Commands), Paolo Virzì (Napoleon and Me, Your Whole Life Ahead of You), Francesco Patierno (The Early Bird Catches the Worm), Daniele Vicari (The Past Is a Foreign Land) and Ferzan Özpetek (Magnificent Presence).

For his role in the movie My Brother is an Only Child (2007), he won his first David di Donatello as best actor in a leading role. In 2010, he won the Best Actor Award, ex-aequo with Javier Bardem, at the Cannes Film Festival, for his interpretation in La Nostra Vita. Later that year, he played the son of Italian journalist Tiziano Terzani in The End Is My Beginning. For his portrait of 19th century poet Giacomo Leopardi in Mario Martone's film Leopardi, Germano was praised at the 71st Venice International Film Festival.

Personal life

At an early age Germano liked creating comics and thought about becoming a cartoonist. When he was not accepted into the school of graphic arts, he then opted for acting. In his spare time, Germano makes raps for a music group called Bestierare, which sings about "unemployment, homelessness, precariousness, prisons and Fascist violence".

Filmography

Film

TitleYearRole(s)DirectorNotesIl cielo in una stanzaUnfair CompetitionUltimo stadioRespiroNow or NeverBreak FreeWhat Will Happen to UsChiamami SalomèQuo Vadis, Baby?MarySangue – La morte non esisteRomanzo CriminaleMelissa P.Napoleon and MeMy Brother Is an Only ChildFallen HeroesThe Early Bird Catches the WormYour Whole Life Ahead of YouThe Past Is a Foreign LandAs God CommandsLa bella genteNineLa nostra vitaThe End Is My BeginningDiaz – Don't Clean Up This BloodMagnificent PresenceThe LandlordsThe Fifth WheelLeopardiSuburraThe Lady in the Car with Glasses and a GunAlaskaLost and BeautifulIl sogno di FrancescoTendernessIt's All About KarmaIo sono TempestaLucia's GraceThe Man Without GravityBad TalesHidden AwayRose IslandAmerica LatinaLord of the AntsPalazzina LafConfidenzaSicilian LettersThe Great AmbitionThree Goodbyes
1999PaoloCarlo Vanzina
2001Paolo MelchiorriEttore Scola
2002BilloIvano De Matteo
PierluigiEmanuele Crialese
2003DoveriLucio Pellegrini
VinceGianluca Tavarelli
2004ManuelGiovanni Veronesi
2005GiovanniClaudio Sestieri
Lucio SpasimoGabriele Salvatores
MatteoAbel Ferrara
IuriLibero De Rienzo
Romolo "Il sorcio" MirabelliMichele Placido
ArnaldoLuca Guadagnino
2006Martino PapucciPaolo Virzì
2007Antonio BenassiDaniele Luchetti
Luca NeriPaolo Franchi
2008Marco BaldiniFrancesco Patierno
LucioPaolo Virzì
GiorgioDaniele Vicari
Quattro FormaggiGabriele Salvatores
2009GiulioIvano De Matteo
PierpaoloRob Marshall
2010ClaudioDaniele Luchetti
Folco TerzaniJo Baier
2012Luca GualtieriDaniele Vicari
Pietro PontechiavelloFerzan Özpetek
EliaEdoardo Gabbriellini
2013ErnestoGiovanni Veronesi
2014Giacomo LeopardiMario Martone
2015SebastianoStefano Sollima
GeorgesJoann Sfar
FaustoClaudio Cupellini
Sarchiapone (voice)Pietro Marcello
2016Francis of AssisiRenaud Fely
2017FabioGianni Amelio
Mario PitagoraEdoardo Falcone
2018BrunoDaniele Luchetti
ArturoGianni Zanasi
2019OscarMario Bonfanti
2020Bruno PlacidoDamiano and Fabio D'Innocenzo
Antonio LigabueGiorgio Diritti
Giorgio RosaSydney Sibilia
2021Massimo SistiDamiano and Fabio D'Innocenzo
2022Ennio ScribaniGianni Amelio
2023Giancarlo BasileMichele Riondino
2024Pietro VellaDaniele Luchetti
MatteoFabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza
Enrico BerlinguerAndrea Segre
2025AntonioIsabel Coixet

Television

TitleYearRole(s)NetworkNotesCornetti al mielePadre Pio: Miracle ManUn medico in famigliaVia Zanardi 33Il sequestro SoffiantiniPadriFerrariPaolo BorsellinoDo You Like Hitchcock?Faccia d'angeloIn arte NinoLa Storia
1999ErnestoRai 2Television film
2000Young Padre PioCanale 5Television film
Roberto PalombiRai 15 episodes
2001IvanItalia 1Main role
2002Paolo SoffiantiniCanale 5Television film
GiacomoRai 12 episodes
2003Teenage Enzo FerrariCanale 5Television film
2004Manfredi BorsellinoTelevision film
2005GiulioRai 2Television film
2012Il "Toso"Sky CinemaTelevision film
2017Nino ManfrediRai 1Television film
2024Giuseppe Cucchiarelli2 episodes

Theatre

YearTitleRoleRegia20001999–20002002200420082010–20122011–2016
HippolytusHippolytusIvano De Matteo
Ground & GroundHimself
The Rules of AttractionSeanLuca Guadagnino
I racconti dell'IliadeNarratorAlessandro Baricco
Verona Caput FasciHimself
Thom Pain (based on nothing)Thom Pain
Journey to the End of the NightFerdinand Bardamu

Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryNominated workResultRef.Bari International Film FestivalBerlin International Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalCiak d'OroDavid di DonatelloEuropean Film AwardsFICE AwardsGlobo d'OroGuglielmo Biraghi AwardKineo AwardNastro d'ArgentoRome Film FestivalTerni Film FestivalVenice International Film Festival
2011Best ActorLa nostra vita
2015Leopardi
2008Shooting Stars AwardHimself
2020Silver Bear for Best ActorHidden Away
2010Prix d'interprétation masculine
(tied with Javier Bardem)La nostra vita
2007Best ActorMy Brother Is an Only Child
2012Magnificent Presence
2015Leopardi
2020Bad Tales
2022America Latina
2004Best Supporting ActorWhat Will Happen to Us
2007Best ActorMy Brother Is an Only Child
2011La nostra vita
2012Magnificent Presence
2015Leopardi
2018Best Supporting ActorTenderness
2021Best ActorHidden Away
2022America Latina
2023Best Supporting ActorLord of the Ants
2024Palazzina Laf
2025Best ActorThe Great Ambition
2007Best ActorMy Brother Is an Only Child
2010La nostra vita
2020Hidden Away
2005Best New ActorSangue – La morte non esiste
2007Best Breakthrough ActorNapoleon and Me
2008Best ActorFallen Heroes
2011La nostra vita
2012Magnificent Presence
2016Alaska
2024Confidenza
2007Best ActorNapoleon and Me
2008Best ActorMy Brother Is an Only Child
The Early Bird Catches the Worm
Best Supporting ActorYour Whole Life Ahead of You
2012Best ActorDiaz – Don't Clean Up This Blood
2015Leopardi
2005Best Supporting ActorWhat Will Happen to Us
2008Best ActorMy Brother Is an Only Child
Fallen Heroes
2010Best Actor
(tied with Christian De Sica)La nostra vita
2012Best ActorMagnificent Presence
2014The Fifth Wheel
2016Alaska
2021Best Comedy ActorRose Island
2024Best Supporting ActorPalazzina Laf
2024Best ActorThe Great Ambition
2016Honorary AwardHimself
2014Pasinetti AwardLeopardi
Vittorio Veneto Award

References

References

  1. Lyman, Eric. (February 12, 2008). "Shooting Star profile: Elio Germano". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
  2. (8 May 2025). "David di Donatello, come è andata: Elio Germano vince (e attacca), Luisa Ranieri basita, rivolta per la serata infinita".
  3. Barcaro, Gabriele. (February 8, 2008). "Elio Germano: Shooting Star 2008 - Italia". Cineuropa.
  4. Mc Cafferty, Hugo. (September 2, 2014). "Young and Romantic Leopardi conquers Venice". Swide.
  5. Telese, Luca. (October 1, 2010). "Elio Germano". lucatelese.it.
  6. Di Simone, Marialuisa. (March 21, 2012). "Elio Germano: Benedette Donne". [[Grazia]] Italia.
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