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Giulio Base
Giulio Base
Giulio Base
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Giulio Base (born 6 December 1964) is an Italian film director.[1][2][3] He has received two doctorates, one in Literature and Philosophy and another in Theology, and has been a member of Mensa International since 1996.[citation needed]

Key Information

Career

[edit]

Base began his career as an actor, studying in Florence at the School for Dramatic Art under the actor Vittorio Gassman.

After working as an actor, he made his directorial debut with Crack (1991), based on a theatre piece that he had already directed and performed on stage. The movie was shown at the Venice Film Festival in Italy. The film won the best first opera prize at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.

His second film, The East (1992), a road movie, was also shown in Venice and at the Toronto International Film Festival

Base directed Policemen (1996), his first work on a European major film, which was an international co-production including French and Italian actors. This film won a prize as the best movie at the Festival of the Film Policiers in Arcachon, France.

The West (1998) was the sequel to The East, and was a road movie about young boys driving from New York to Los Angeles. It was awarded the Special Jury Award at the Réncontres du Cinema, in Annecy, France.

La Bomba - Once Upon A Time In Little Italy (1999), a comedy about mafia lifestyle in New York City, featured Shelley Winters.

His first role as director of a TV movie was Padre Pio: Between Heaven and Earth (2000).

In 2005, he directed Imperium: Saint Peter, the tale of Peter, the first apostle, played by Omar Sharif. This work introduced him to the Hollywood film industry.[4]

In 2006, he directed The Inquiry (produced by Avi Lerner, with Nu Image) that was released by 20th Century Fox in the United States (as The Final Inquiry), by Sony in Spain, and by IIF in Italy. The cast included actors Max Von Sydow, F. Murray Abraham, Ornella Muti, and Dolph Lundgren.[5]

In 2007, he directed Imperium: Pompeii.[6]

In 2009, he directed a western comedy shot in New Mexico, Doc West, starring Terence Hill, Paul Sorvino and Clare Carey.[7] The movie was shown at the Cannes Film Market.[3]

In 2010, he shot the TV movie A Dog for Two.

In 2011, he directed the film The Sunday Woman, a remake of the 1970s film.

As of 2024, he is the director of the Torino Film Festival.

References

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Giulio Base

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Giulio Base is an Italian film director, screenwriter, and actor known for his prolific contributions to Italian cinema and television, as well as his role as artistic director of the Torino Film Festival. Born in Turin, he began his career in acting at age 15 on stage and later trained under Vittorio Gassman at the School for Dramatic Art in Florence. He holds doctorates in Literature and Philosophy and in Theology, which have informed his work across genres, particularly in biographical and religious-themed projects. Base made his film directorial debut with Crack (1991), which earned the best first film award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, and went on to direct a range of features and television works. Notable among them are Lovest (1996), Padre Pio – Tra Cielo e Terra (2000), Maria Goretti (2003), Il banchiere anarchico (2018), A Starry Sky Above the Roman Ghetto (2020), Il maledetto (2022), and Margherita delle stelle (2024), many of which he also wrote. He directed numerous episodes of the long-running series Don Matteo between 2004 and 2011, showcasing his versatility in both cinema and television formats. In recent years, Base has served as director of the Torino Film Festival, where he prioritizes films of high artistic quality and provides visibility to works from regions facing challenges in free expression. He continues to develop new projects, including the upcoming Il Vangelo di Giuda.

Early life

Birth and early years

Giulio Base was born on December 6, 1964, in Turin, Piedmont, Italy. This northern Italian city was where he spent his early years. He made his stage debut at age 15 at the Teatro Nuovo in Turin with Massimo Scaglione.

Education and training

Giulio Base earned two degrees (lauree): one in Modern Literature (Lettere Moderne) with a thesis in History and Film Criticism from the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy at Sapienza University of Rome, and another in Theology from the Istitutum Patristicum Augustinianum in Vatican City. At age 18 he met Vittorio Gassman and trained under him at the Bottega Teatrale in Florence, where he was diplomato (graduated/diplomaed) and debuted in the play "I misteri di San Pietroburgo" directed by Gassman.

Career

Acting in theater and early roles

Giulio Base began his acting career in theater as a teenager in his native Turin. At the age of 15, he made his stage debut at the Teatro Nuovo, working under the direction of Massimo Scaglione. He later trained professionally at the Bottega Teatrale in Florence, where he studied under the renowned Italian actor and director Vittorio Gassman. Base's notable theatrical debut came when Gassman directed him in the production I misteri di San Pietroburgo. During the 1980s, his ongoing theater work built a foundation as a versatile performer capable of handling diverse roles. Base transitioned to screen acting toward the end of the decade. His earliest television credits included appearances in the series Chiara e gli altri (1989) and the TV movie Aquile (1989). In cinema, his first roles arrived in the early 1990s with films such as Il ritorno del grande amico (1990) directed by Giorgio Molteni and Il senso della vertigine (1990) directed by Paolo Bologna. He went on to appear in Il portaborse (1991) directed by Daniele Luchetti and Caldo soffocante (1991) directed by Giovanna Gagliardo. Other early film work included Teste rasate (1992) directed by Claudio Fragasso.

Film and television acting

Giulio Base has sustained a steady acting career in Italian film and television since the early 1990s, often taking supporting or character roles in projects by established directors while also appearing in his own directorial works. His early film credits include appearances in Il portaborse (1991) directed by Daniele Luchetti and Caro diario (1993) directed by Nanni Moretti, alongside Teste rasate (1992) directed by Claudio Fragasso and Il macellaio (1998) directed by Aurelio Grimaldi. Base frequently performs in his self-directed films, taking lead or significant parts such as the Banker in Il banchiere anarchico (2018), Riccardo in A Starry Sky Above the Roman Ghetto (2020), and Pietro in À la Recherche (2023). His television work includes recurring or guest appearances in popular Italian series such as Don Matteo (seasons 4 through 8) and Tutti pazzi per amore 2 (2010), as well as roles in Una grande famiglia (2012–2013). In addition to domestic productions, Base has appeared in international films, including a small role as the coroner in All the Money in the World (2017) directed by Ridley Scott, and more recent Italian comedies such as La mia banda suona il pop (2020) and Corro da te (2022). His acting roles span drama, comedy, and historical genres, contributing to a career that complements his primary work as a director and screenwriter across more than three decades.

Directing debut and early films

Giulio Base made his directorial debut in 1991 with Crack, a film he also wrote and starred in alongside other roles. Adapted from a comedy by Franco Bertini focusing on the hardships faced by young Roman suburbanites, the film received the award for Best First Feature Film at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. These early efforts established Base as a filmmaker who often combined directing with screenwriting and acting in his own independent projects. In 1992, Base directed Lest, the first chapter in a planned quadrilogy exploring journeys toward the four cardinal points. He followed this with Poliziotti in 1994, a film inspired by a real event and set in Turin, marking a step toward more structured productions. In 1996, he released Lovest, a road movie shot in the United States that won the Special Jury Grand Prix at the Annecy Italian Film Festival. Base's final film of the 1990s was La bomba in 1999, which he wrote and directed featuring Vittorio Gassman and Alessandro Gassman in prominent roles. These early directorial works, characterized by personal themes and festival participation, highlighted his transition from acting to multifaceted filmmaking during the decade.

Major directorial works

Giulio Base's major directorial works from the 2000s onward reflect his shift toward more personal and literary-inspired projects, often combining his roles as director, screenwriter, and actor in independent Italian cinema. One of his key films is "Il banchiere anarchico" (2018), an adaptation of Fernando Pessoa's novella of the same name, which unfolds as a philosophical dialogue between a successful banker and a journalist questioning the compatibility of anarchy and capitalism. The film was selected for the Sconfini section at the 75th Venice International Film Festival, where it was noted for its boundary-pushing narrative style, and it received the Premio Persefone for best adaptation from a literary work. Base continued this trend with subsequent theatrical releases that garnered festival and award recognition. "Bar Giuseppe" (2019) earned a nomination for the Nastro d'argento for best original subject. "Un cielo stellato sopra il ghetto di Roma" (2020) received a David di Donatello nomination for the David Giovani award for best director, along with a Certificate of Recognition from the City of Los Angeles and a best director nomination at the Bastia Italian Film Festival. His 2023 film "À la recherche", featuring Base alongside Anne Parillaud, won the Ciak d'oro for best essay film and a special Nastro d'argento in 2024 for the combined achievement in direction, screenplay, and performance. These later works highlight Base's focus on intimate, reflective storytelling, often drawing from literary or historical sources, and have earned him increasing acknowledgment in Italian film festivals and awards circuits.

Screenwriting, producing, and other contributions

Giulio Base has frequently taken on screenwriting duties for his own directorial projects, contributing original scripts that reflect his distinctive narrative style and thematic interests. He is credited as writer or screenwriter on several films, including "A Starry Sky Above the Roman Ghetto" (2020), which he also directed. His screenwriting extends to more recent and upcoming works, such as "À la recherche" (2023), "Albatross" (2025), and "Judas' Gospel" (2025). Base has also engaged in producing, earning credits as producer on various projects, often in connection with films he directs or co-creates. These roles highlight his involvement in the full creative and logistical spectrum of filmmaking. Beyond screenwriting and producing, Base has made notable contributions to the broader film industry, including his appointment as director of the Torino Film Festival starting in 2024, where he oversees programming and promotes international cinema.

Personal life

Recognition and awards

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