VITTORIA COLONNA
“...One of the top ten female filmmakers to look out for...” Aesthetica Magazine Blog
“...Vittoria is a visionary director with a great sense of drama...” Jim Sheridan (6 time Oscar nominated Film Director)
“...The tenderness, almost love, she shows towards these misfits turned the film into a triumph...” Helen Lucy Burke on Identities (Irish Film and Literary Critic)
VITTORIA COLONNA / PAINTEDFILMS is a Filmmaker, Performance Artist, and overall Seeker. Growing up between Ireland and Italy, Vittoria studied fine art painting in Rome's L'Accademia di Belle Arti, trained as an Opera singer in Tuscany and then continued in the performing arts, completing her studies at the Gaiety school of Acting in Dublin 2004. Later she turned to directing and visual storytelling where she found her niche.
Vittoria has directed numerous music videos, which have received international acclaim, such as an Irish Music Television Award (IMTV) in 2009, Best Music Video at the The Los Angeles Film and Script Festival 2012, The Golden Ace Award at the Las Vegas International Film Festival 2012 and The Golden Palm Award at The Mexico International Film Festival 2012. However most impressive has been the touring success of her debut feature documentary, IDENTITIES and short feature MY IDENTITY which she wrote, directed and produced, winning awards such as The Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) Human Rights Film Award among other nominations such as The Celtic Media Award for best Factual Documentary 2010, European Short Debut Award at The Era New Horizons International Film Festival 2010 and The Current Award at the Rome Independent Film Festival in 2010. The performance art pieces from the film were selected by the Italian Cultural Minster as part of the Worldwide Italian Pavilion & 54th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale 2011. Her passion for directing lead her into narrative fiction 4 BHANRÍON (4 Queens) 2013 picking up Best Short Narrative at Moondance FF 2013 and Babel FF 2013 and her latest intimate film SANDBOY 2015 qualified for the Oscar 2016 short film nomination as well as winning Best Short Narrative, Best Film Score and Best Leading actress at Moondance FF 2015 and Best Lead Actress at the NYCIFF 2015.
To date, Vittoria has built a reputation for investigating complex ethical questions, using film, documentary, video and art to reveal the harsher aspects of existence and rebellion yet exploring entertaining, sensitive and dramatic themes with honesty and dark humour. Vittoria is based between Los Angeles, Dublin and Rome. She is also a member of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland (SDGI) and is currently developing a number of projects worldwide.
WINNER Best Experimental short & Best Romantic short Gold Awards - Best LGBTQ Short Silver Award - Independent Short Awards - USA 2019
WINNER Best Actress in a Short Film - New York City International Film Festival - USA 2015
WINNER Best Film - Moondance International Film Festival -USA 2015
WINNER Best Actress - Moondance International Film Festival -USA 2015
WINNER Best Film Score- Moondance International Film Festival -USA 2015
WINNER Babel Film Festival - Italy 2013
WINNER Moondance International Film Festival - USA 2013
WINNER Best music Video Award - The Los Angeles Film and Script Festival - USA 2012
WINNER Golden Palm Award - Mexico International Film Festival - USA 2012
WINNER Golden Ace Award - The Las Vegas International Film Festival - USA 2012
WINNER Best Film - The Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) Human Rights Film Award - IRL 2009
WINNER Best Documentary Film Award - The Gaze Film Festival - IRL 2009
WINNER Best Styled Video - Irish Music Television (IMTV) Awards - IRL 2009
NOMINATED Best Comedy: Fastnet Short Film Festival - IRL 2014
NOMINATED Music Song/ Indie Short: The Hollywood Music in Media Awards - USA 2012
NOMINATED Best Music Video: (LIFF) London Independent Film Festival - UK 2012
NOMINATED NXNE Festival - Canada 2012
NOMINATED Best Music Video: ASFF Aesthetica Film Festival - UK 2012
NOMINATED Best Music Video: Rincón International Film Festival, Puerto Rico - USA 2012
NOMINATED Best Music Video: Other Venice Film Festival - USA 2012
NOMINATED Sexiest Video: Irish Music Television (IMTV) Awards - IRL 2011
NOMINATEDBest Styled Video: Irish Music Television (IMTV) Awards - IRL 2011
NOMINATED Best Video: Underground Short Film Festival - IRL 2011
NOMINATED Rising Star Award: Bray Music Video Festival - IRL 2010
NOMINATED Best Video: Bray MVF - IRL 2010
NOMINATED Best-Shot Video: Bray MVF - IRL 2010
NOMINATED Best Factual Single Documentary: Celtic Media Awards - IRL 2010
NOMINATED European Short Debut: Era New Horizons, IFF - Poland 2010
NOMINATED Best Original Work /International Investigation: Rome Independent Film Festival - ITA 2010
NOMINATED Best Female Solo Video: Irish Music Television (IMTV) Award - IRL 2009
SELECTED CREDITS
Writer / Director / Producer SANDBOY 2014 -Short Feature. Underground Films
Winner Best Short Film, Moondance International Film Festival 2015
Winner Best Film Score, Moondance International Film Festival -USA 2015
Winner Best Actress, Moondance International Film Festival -USA 2015
Winner Best Actress in a short Film, NYCIFF (New York International Film Festival) - USA 2015
Director 4 BHANRÍON (4 QUEENS) 2013 -Short Feature. Underground Films, TG4, Filmbase
Winner Best Short Narrative Film, Moondance International Film Festival 2013 Winner Best Short Narrative Film, Babel Film Festival, Italy 2013
Official Selection Irish Film Festival London 2015
Official Selection Cellu L'Art Germany 2015
Official Selection Baton Rouge Irish Film Festival 2014
Official Selection DIFF Dublin International Film Festival 2014
Official Selection Galway Film Fleadh 2013
Official Selection LA Indie Film Festival 2013
Official Selection WIF International Festival 2013
Writer / Director DREAMING AGAIN 2012 - Music Video Prod. The Coronas & Tidal
Writer / Director / Producer BREAK OF LIGHT 2012 - Music Video Prod. Enieleven
Writer / Director / Producer LET'S BE ALONE TOGETHER 2012- Music Video Prod Scar Records & Dirty Epics
Writer / Director / Producer COME ON 2012 - Music Video Prod. Preachers Son
Winner Best Music Video: The Los Angeles Film & Script Festival 2012
Winner Golden Ace Award: Las Vegas Film Festival 2012
Winner Golden Palm Award: Mexico International Film Festival, San Diego 2012
Nominated Best Music Video: Ricon Film Festival 2012
Nominated Best Music Video: LIFF 2012
Nominated Best Music Video: Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) 2012
Nominated: Hollywood Music in Media Award (HMMA) 2012
Official Selection: (NXNE) North by North East Film, Canada 2012
Official Selection: (ASFF) Aesthetica Film Festival, UK 2012
Official Selection: Great Lakes International Film Festival, USA 2012
Sundance London: Short Film Competition Entrant 2012
QTV, UK & Soundnet
Writer / Director / Producer KAY 2012 Short Doc. Paintedfilms
Director FASHION LOOK BOOK MIKO SPINELLI 2012 Miko Spinelli
Writer / Director ENTHRALLED 2011 - Music Video Prod. Dirty Epics
Nominated Sexiest Video: Irish Music Television (IMTV) Awards 2011
Nominated Best Styled Video: Irish Music Television (IMTV) Awards 2011
Nominated Best Video: Underground Short Film Festival 2011
Official Selection: Darklight Film Festival IRL 2011
Writer / Director / Producer L'ULTIMO GIORNO D'ESTATE (Last Day of Summer) 2011- Short Doc Paintedfilms
Writer / Director ONE MORE TUNE 2010 Music Video Prod. Julie Feeney, Mittens & Greyman Films
Writer / Director IMPOSSIBLY BEAUTIFUL 2009 - Music Video Prod. Julie Feeney
Winner Best Styled Video: Irish Music Television (IMTV) Awards 2009
Writer / Director LOVE IS A TRICKY THING 2009 Music Video Prod. Julie Feeney, Mittens & Greyman Films
Nominated Best Female Solo Video: Irish Music Television (IMTV) Award 2009
Nominated Rising Star Award: Bray Music Video Festival 2010
Nominated Best Video: Bray MVF 2010
Nominated Best Artist: Bray MVF 2010
Writer / Director HERE/SHAPIRO 2009 Documentary Prod - Underground Films
Writer/ Director /Co-Producer IDENTITIES & MY IDENTITY 2008 - Underground Films
Winner Best Film Award: ICCL Human Rights Film Awards 2009
Winner Best Documentary Film Award: The Gaze Film Festival 2009
Nominated European Short Debut: Era New Horizons, IFF 2010
Nominated Best Factual Single Documentary: Celtic Media Awards 2010
Nominated Best Original Work / International Investigation: Rome Independent Film Festival 2010
Writer / Director / Producer I SEE YOU LEOPARD 2008 Music Video Prod. Underground FIlms
Producer LET'S GO DADDY OH! 2007 Music Video Prod. Benatti Productions & Ladyface
Writer / Director / Producer HARLOT Promotional Vid. Felix da Housecat & Spirit
Writer / Director / Producer FICTITIOUS RICHARD 2006 Music Video Prod. Julie Feeny, Sony BMG, AB UNO Productions & Mittens
Writer / Director / Producer NUN 2005 short feature. AB UNO Productions
ADDITIONAL CREDITS:
1st Assistant Director - SOCIETY KILLERS (2005) Feature Film, MMD PRODUCTIONS
1st Assistant Director - THE FUTURE RUNS IN INDIA (2006) Six part Documentary, R.A.I Television, DEVI PRODUCTIONS, India
1st Assistant Director - THE ORANGE (2006) 20 mins, short film, ODI Productions & KUBLAI FILM, Italy
2nd Assistant Director - CONNOLLY’S DAUGHTER, (2006) 4 mins, music video for PZAZZ, RASCAL FILMS
Art Director - THE LAST CIGARETTE (2005) 3 mins, short film, FILMBASE
Asst. Production Designer – EGG (2005) 5 mins, short film, AKAJAVA PRODUCTIONS Sound Supervisor - WHAT IF Pilot T.V Series (Featuring John Boorman & Jim Sheridan) (2005) 15mins, BOOTLEG PRODUCTIONS
Lighting & photography – GONE (2005) 6 mins, short film, FILMBASE
Actors Assistant – PANDORA (2005) Short Feature, TG4 & SQUINT PRODUCTIONS
ACTING EXPERIENCE
-Young wife, MY HOUSE IN UMBRIA (2002) Feature Film
-Amy, SOCIETY KILLERS (2005) Feature Film
-Peasant, KING ARTHUR (2003) Feature Film
-Irish Mary, GANGS OF NEW YORK (2000) Feature Film
EDUCATION
Final Cut Editing, Irish Film Academy, Dublin 2006
Screen Writing, Irish Film Academy, Dublin 2006
Film Foundation Course, Filmbase, Dublin, Ireland 2005 Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin, Ireland 2002-2004 L'Accademia di Belle Arti, Rome, Italy 2000-2002
Journalist for FILM IRELAND magazine (2005)
CORN EXCHANGE, Dublin 2005
S.I.T.I Theatre Company, Dublin 2004
R.A.D.A, London 2002
Numerous Acting roles in Theatre and Musical Productions.
T.S.D Think Shoot Distribute/BFI/ London Film Festival 2011 FAS- Ted Hope & Christine Vachon Masterclass 2011
FAS- Dearbhla Walsh Masterclass 2011
FAS- Stephen Daldry Masterclass 2010
FAS- Adaption or anatomy of a screenplay 2010
FAS- Block Buster and script Analysis 2009
FAS- Mark Romanek Masterclass 2009
FAS- Mark Travis workshops 2009
FAS- Mike Leigh Masterclass 2008 FAS- Nicolas Philibert Masterclass 2008 FAS- Catalyst Project 2007