Massimo D'Anolfi

Massimo D'Anolfi and Martina Parenti recount the birth and development of Bestiari, erbari, lapidari, their latest film, presented out of competition at the Venice Film Festival in September 2024.

For Filmmaker Film Festival (2023), Fulvio Baglivi and Cristina Piccino asked some filmmakers (R. Beckermann, J. Bressane, D’Anolfi/Parenti, T. De Bernardi, L. Di Costanzo, A. Fasulo, F. Ferraro, M. Frammartino, S. George, ghezzi/Gagliardo, C. Hintermann, G. Maderna, A. Momo, A. Rossetto, M. Santini, C. Simon, S. Savona) to give us their own "lost road," that is, a sequence, scene or piece of editing that did not later find its way into the final version of one of their works. Each fragment has its own accomplished presence, often has a different title from the film it was made for, which is not necessary to have seen in order to find meaning; on the contrary, those who set out thinking they know the world they are walking through will find themselves displaced.

Water, air, earth, fire, ether. Four different stories that tell and show a reaching out towards immortality. We dedicate the element water to immortality in science, that of air to the immortality of art, that of earth to the immortality of faith and that of fire to the immortality of feelings. Ether, linked to the cosmos and the stars, is a tribute to the film industry.

Water, air, earth, fire, ether. Four different stories that tell and show a reaching out towards immortality. We dedicate the element water to immortality in science, that of air to the immortality of art, that of earth to the immortality of faith and that of fire to the immortality of feelings. Ether, linked to the cosmos and the stars, is a tribute to the film industry.

Water, air, earth, fire, ether. Four different stories that tell and show a reaching out towards immortality. We dedicate the element water to immortality in science, that of air to the immortality of art, that of earth to the immortality of faith and that of fire to the immortality of feelings. Ether, linked to the cosmos and the stars, is a tribute to the film industry.

How to film war? «War and Peace» tells the story of the century-old relationship between cinema and war, from the time of their first encounter, way back in 1911 with the Italian invasion of Libya, up to the present day. Forging ahead from the images captured by the pioneers of cinema to today’s twitter feeds, following young soldiers as they are trained to film war, the alliance between cinema and war appears to be a powerful one.

How to film war? «War and Peace» tells the story of the century-old relationship between cinema and war, from the time of their first encounter, way back in 1911 with the Italian invasion of Libya, up to the present day. Forging ahead from the images captured by the pioneers of cinema to today’s twitter feeds, following young soldiers as they are trained to film war, the alliance between cinema and war appears to be a powerful one.

How to film war? «War and Peace» tells the story of the century-old relationship between cinema and war, from the time of their first encounter, way back in 1911 with the Italian invasion of Libya, up to the present day. Forging ahead from the images captured by the pioneers of cinema to today’s twitter feeds, following young soldiers as they are trained to film war, the alliance between cinema and war appears to be a powerful one.

We are at Niguarda, the most important hospital in Milan that has always been a point of reference for the homeless in the area. Today, the majority of patients are foreigners, to the point that in 2000, the Ethnopsychiatry service was created within the Department of Mental Health. It is here that those without a territorial reference find support within treatment paths. Often these are very vulnerable people, traumatized by the abuse suffered on the journey to Europe. The directors filmed three sessions at different times.

Materia oscura tells the story of a war zone in peacetime. The film location is the Salto di Quirra test range (Sardinia, Italy) where, for over fifty years, governments around the world have tested 'new weapons' and where the Italian government has carried out controlled explosions of old weapon stocks, inexorably endangering the territory.

Materia oscura tells the story of a war zone in peacetime. The film location is the Salto di Quirra test range (Sardinia, Italy) where, for over fifty years, governments around the world have tested 'new weapons' and where the Italian government has carried out controlled explosions of old weapon stocks, inexorably endangering the territory.

Materia oscura tells the story of a war zone in peacetime. The film location is the Salto di Quirra test range (Sardinia, Italy) where, for over fifty years, governments around the world have tested 'new weapons' and where the Italian government has carried out controlled explosions of old weapon stocks, inexorably endangering the territory.

One year at Malpensa: four seasons spent following the bureaucracy, the procedures, the controls and the movements that are everyday occurrences inside an intercontinental airport. A public space, in which Italian and international police forces collaborate, where every gesture is captured by closed-circuit cameras, each piece of luggage is studied in all its recesses in an attempt to ward off a potential and unknown threat. A place in which fear is the only thing not in transit.

One year at Malpensa: four seasons spent following the bureaucracy, the procedures, the controls and the movements that are everyday occurrences inside an intercontinental airport. A public space, in which Italian and international police forces collaborate, where every gesture is captured by closed-circuit cameras, each piece of luggage is studied in all its recesses in an attempt to ward off a potential and unknown threat. A place in which fear is the only thing not in transit.

A nocturnal voyage into the bowels of the Earth. The camera follows the work of a machine that is digging tunnels for new underground railway lines. A short film that starts from the darkness to slowly approach the light, when the last fragment of rock falls and the workers’ eternal night comes to an end. A film that shows the inextricable bond between man and machine.

A nocturnal voyage into the bowels of the Earth. The camera follows the work of a machine that is digging tunnels for new underground railway lines. A short film that starts from the darkness to slowly approach the light, when the last fragment of rock falls and the workers’ eternal night comes to an end. A film that shows the inextricable bond between man and machine.

A nocturnal voyage into the bowels of the Earth. The camera follows the work of a machine that is digging tunnels for new underground railway lines. A short film that starts from the darkness to slowly approach the light, when the last fragment of rock falls and the workers’ eternal night comes to an end. A film that shows the inextricable bond between man and machine.

A short documentary showing the work of a Japanese researcher on jellyfish.

While investigating the murder of a woman that occurred in the sado-masochistic club scene, Inspector Luca Moccia discovers fantasies that threaten his relationship. Will he overcome them?

While investigating the murder of a woman that occurred in the sado-masochistic club scene, Inspector Luca Moccia discovers fantasies that threaten his relationship. Will he overcome them?

Who are the people who will comprise Italy’s future leadership ? Three entrepreneurs offer some responses to the question: Antonio Ambrosetti, founder of a new course called «Leader del Futuro», Federcio Morgantini, a young man whose business ambitions take him to China, and Matteo Storchi, a succesful manager of a family business. The filmmakers want to record these individuals in «their roles as leaders within the society they represent.» So they follow their three protagonists through their working lives. All three are at a crucial stage in their careers: will they succeed in their respective projects? Taking a humorous perspective, navigating both hope and pessimism, the film moves from Italy to China on the heels of these contemporary entrepreneurs who are often destined to lead more through heredity than vocation.

Who are the people who will comprise Italy’s future leadership ? Three entrepreneurs offer some responses to the question: Antonio Ambrosetti, founder of a new course called «Leader del Futuro», Federcio Morgantini, a young man whose business ambitions take him to China, and Matteo Storchi, a succesful manager of a family business. The filmmakers want to record these individuals in «their roles as leaders within the society they represent.» So they follow their three protagonists through their working lives. All three are at a crucial stage in their careers: will they succeed in their respective projects? Taking a humorous perspective, navigating both hope and pessimism, the film moves from Italy to China on the heels of these contemporary entrepreneurs who are often destined to lead more through heredity than vocation.

True story of an attractive Sicilian mob-wife who participates in her husband's drug-dealing business and falls for her husband's lackey.

In Italy, couples prepare for their imminent weddings. The bureaucratic State and the dogmatic Church oversee the nuptials. Municipal employees listen to couples' statements and intentions. A provincial priest delivers a matrimonial lesson: speaking of faith and science, spirituality, and sexuality.

In Italy, couples prepare for their imminent weddings. The bureaucratic State and the dogmatic Church oversee the nuptials. Municipal employees listen to couples' statements and intentions. A provincial priest delivers a matrimonial lesson: speaking of faith and science, spirituality, and sexuality.

Filmmakers that were selected at Visions du Réel in the past twenty editions celebrate the Festival's anniversary by each making a short movie in which they expose their view of the future.