Massimo Gaudioso

Born in Naples, Gaudioso graduated in business administration at the Federico II University and then worked in an advertising agency.^[1][2] Between 1983 and 1995 he worked as a freelance screenwriter and director, making among other things commercials, industrial films, institutional videos and short documentaries.^[1]

Gaudioso made his feature film debut in 1996, co-writing, co-directing and co-producing with Eugenio Cappuccio and Fabio Nunziata the semi-autobiographical film Il caricatore, based on the short with the same name the trio had written and directed one year before;^[1][2] the film won several awards, including the award for best screenplay at the Torino Film Festival and the Ciak d'oro for best first work.^[1] Following another film with Cappuccio and Nunziata (La vita è una sola, 1999), Gaudioso focused on screenwriting, starting in 2000 a long professional association with Matteo Garrone; other notable collaborations include Carlo Verdone, Daniele Vicari, Gianni Di Gregorio, and Luca Miniero.^[1][3]

During his career Gaudioso received numerous awards, notably the European Film Award for Best Screenwriter for Garrone's Gomorrah,^[4] four David di Donatellos and two Silver Ribbons.^[5]