The screenplay for the 2007 film Il passato è una terra straniera, adapted from the novel The Past is a Foreign Country, marked a significant professional achievement for Francesco Carofiglio when it secured the Gran premio della Giuria at the 2009 Miami Film Festival in Florida.
Architectural Foundation and Early Career
Born in 1964 in Bari, Italy, Carofiglio pursued his formal education at the University of Florence, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in architecture. During his university years, he engaged in scenography and directing, establishing early collaborations with figures such as Giorgio Albertazzi, Ugo Chiti, Gabriele Ferzetti, Torao Suzuki, and Egisto Marcucci. Beyond his primary degree, he maintained an early interest in illustration and acting, fields he explored during his high school period.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Professional Design and Directing
Carofiglio transitioned into a multi-disciplinary practice focusing on the design of exhibition spaces, picture galleries, and performance venues. Between 2002 and 2005, he directed the acting school at the University of Bari. His cinematic contributions include directing several short films that received various national and international recognitions, as well as writing screenplays for Italian television and film projects.
Literary Bibliography
His literary career began with the publication of the novel With or without you by BUR Rizzoli in 2005. He collaborated with his brother, Gianrico Carofiglio, on the 2007 graphic novel Cacciatori nelle tenebre. Subsequent works published by Marsilio include L'estate del cane nero, which received the premio LibriaMola in 2008, and Ritorno nella valle degli angeli, a winner of the premio Fenice Europa, the premio Antonio Sebastiani Città di Minturno, and the 2010 Premio Stresa per la Narrativa. Later publications include Radiopirata in 2011, Wok in 2013, and the 2014 novel La casa nel bosco, again co-authored with his brother. His 2014 book, Voglio vivere una volta sola, served as inspiration for the song Sister Never Born, released by the band Twenty Four Hours in 2016.
Fast facts
- Born: 4 July 1964, Bari
- Education: University of Florence
- Citizenship: Italy
- Occupations: Architect, writer, director
- Notable film award: Gran premio della Giuria, Miami Film Festival 2009
- Notable co-author: Gianrico Carofiglio
Questions readers ask
What is the scope of Carofiglio's architectural work?
He specializes in designing exhibition spaces, performance venues, and art galleries.
Which awards did his novel Ritorno nella valle degli angeli receive?
It won the premio Fenice Europa, the premio Antonio Sebastiani Città di Minturno, and the 2010 Premio Stresa per la Narrativa.
Achievements
- Trained at University of Florence
