Alberto Simone

Alberto Simone is an established multi-award winner film writer, director and producer who's solid career spans more than 20 years within the world of Entertainment including Theater, Music, Television, Advertising, Documentary and Cinema. He was born Messina, a small town in the south of Italy and early moved to Rome, where he attended the Faculty of Psychology. In 1986 he specialized in Individual and Group Psychotherapy and PTSD Therapy. His professional career started in 1984 in the advertising field as copywriter and creator of many successful advertising campaigns. In 1986 he became creative director of 'Foot, Cone & Belding', a multinational advertising agency responsible for most of the Renault campaigns. In 1987 he founded 'Well Comm', a new agency which created campaigns for Greenpeace and the League for the Environment as well as government campaigns for the Prime Minister's Cabinet and the Italian Episcopal Conference . The company was also responsible for the commercial campaigns of brands such as Alitalia, Nivea, Grigio Perla, Rizzoli and Bose. Many of these commercials were directed by Simone. During that same period he didn't loose his interest for psychology and frequently collaborated with the 'Maieusis Therapeutic Community' in Capena, near Rome, where he held sessions on creative expression for the young mentally ill residents. This proved to be an important experience which lead him to write and direct the short film, "La Scala Poggiata alla Luna" (A ladder to the moon) in 1993, which received Nanni Moretti's nomination during the first edition of the 'Sacher Festival' winning the 'Silver Sacher Prize'. The documentary inspired him to write the screenplay of his first feature film 'Colpo di Luna' (Moon Shadow). In 1993, together with his wife Roberta Manfredi he founded an independent film production company - 'Dauphine Film Company' - which produced 'Colpo di Luna' (1995), written and directed by Simone. The picture received a nomination at the 45th Berlin Film Festival winning the "Jury Special Mention". It also won the "Golden Globe of Foreing Press in Italy" for 'Best Italian Director' as well as other International awards among which the "Coupe O Cour du Jury" at the Paris Film Festival In 1996. He often collaborates with Italy's first public channel RAI, the main italian TV Broadcaster, as writer, director and producer, realizing some of the most successful TV Movies and TV Series of the last years: He wrote and partially directed three seasons of the acclaimed TV series 'Linda e il Brigadiere' (1996-1999); He wrote and directed 'Una Storia Qualunque' (2000) a film in two parts, that was seen by more than 11 million people followed by 'Le Ragioni Del Cuore' (2001) a 6 episodes TV Series written and partially directed by him; He wrote and directed 'Un Difetto di Famiglia' (A Family Flaw- 2002) a TV Movie accompanied by the soundtrack of Academy Award winner Ennio Morricone and seen by more than 8 million people. The movie was awarded with a "Grolla D'Oro" (2003) for best original screenplay and with a "Ninfe D'Or" for best screenplay at the Festival du Television in Montecarlo, France. In 2005 Simone wrote, directed and produced 'Una Famiglia in Giallo' a TV series that won the Best Director Award at the 58th International Film Festival of Salerno. In 2008 he wrote and directed the TV Movie 'In Nome del Figlio' (in the name of the son) which won 'Best Screenwriting' award at the 2009 Rome Fiction Festival. In 2009 RAI released 'Il commissario Manara' a very successful TV Series who's first two seasons were seen by an average of more than 6 million people per episode. He recently wrote, directed as well as composed the soundtrack for the Film Documentary 'Meeting the Master - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar', which was shot in India and features one of the greatest Spiritual Masters and Humanitarian Leaders of our time. In 2010 he founded a new production Company in Los Angeles, 'Navaratri Entertainment LLC' and is currently working on the American remake of his movie 'Family Flaw', now in pre-production. He recently moved to New York where he now lives and works.