Elio Germano (born 25 September 1980) is an Italian actor and director. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including six David of Donatello., a Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor and a Silver Bear for Best Actor.
Life and career Born in Rome to a Molisan family from Duronia, Province of Campobasso, Germano debuted aged twelve in Castellano e Pipolo's movie Ci hai rotto papà (1992). During his studies at scientific lyceum, he received acting training at Teatro Azione in Rome. In 1999, he abandoned an opportunity to work in theatre with Giancarlo Cobelli in order to play in Carlo Vanzina's film Il cielo in una stanza, which launched Germano as one of the most popular Italian actors. His big break came in 2007, when he was cast as the lead in the successful movies Fallen Heroes and My Brother is an Only Child by Daniele Luchetti. The following year he first received international recognition by winning the Shooting Stars Award at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival.
Germano worked with numerous directors such as Ettore Scola (Unfair Competition), Emanuele Crialese (Respiro), Gianluca Maria Tavarelli (Break Free), Giovanni Veronesi (What Will Happen to Us), Michele Placido (Romanzo Criminale), Gabriele Salvatores (Quo Vadis, Baby?, As God Commands), Paolo Virzì (Napoleon and Me, Your Whole Life Ahead of You), Francesco Patierno (The Early Bird Catches the Worm), Daniele Vicari (The Past Is a Foreign Land) and Ferzan Özpetek (Magnificent Presence).
For his role in the movie My Brother is an Only Child (2007), he won his first David di Donatello as best actor in a leading role. In 2010, he won the Best Actor Award, ex-aequo with Javier Bardem, at the Cannes Film Festival, for his interpretation in La Nostra Vita. Later that year, he played the son of Italian journalist Tiziano Terzani in The End Is My Beginning. For his portrait of 19th century poet Giacomo Leopardi in Mario Martone's film Leopardi, Germano was praised at the 71st Venice International Film Festival.
Personal life At an early age Germano liked creating comics and thought about becoming a cartoonist. When he was not accepted into the school of graphic arts, he then opted for acting. In his spare time, Germano makes raps for a music group called Bestierare, which sings about "unemployment, homelessness, precariousness, prisons and Fascist violence".
Filmography Film TitleYearRole(s)Director NotesIl cielo in una stanza1999PaoloCarlo VanzinaUnfair Competition2001Paolo MelchiorriEttore ScolaUltimo stadio2002BilloIvano De MatteoRespiroPierluigiEmanuele CrialeseNow or Never2003DoveriLucio PellegriniBreak FreeVinceGianluca TavarelliWhat Will Happen to Us2004ManuelGiovanni VeronesiChiamami Salomè2005GiovanniClaudio SestieriQuo Vadis, Baby?Lucio SpasimoGabriele SalvatoresMaryMatteoAbel FerraraSangue – La morte non esisteIuriLibero De RienzoRomanzo CriminaleRomolo "Il sorcio" MirabelliMichele PlacidoMelissa P.ArnaldoLuca GuadagninoNapoleon and Me2006Martino PapucciPaolo VirzìMy Brother Is an Only Child2007Antonio BenassiDaniele LuchettiFallen HeroesLuca NeriPaolo FranchiThe Early Bird Catches the Worm2008Marco BaldiniFrancesco PatiernoYour Whole Life Ahead of YouLucioPaolo VirzìThe Past Is a Foreign LandGiorgioDaniele VicariAs God CommandsQuattro FormaggiGabriele SalvatoresLa bella gente2009GiulioIvano De MatteoNinePierpaoloRob MarshallLa nostra vita2010ClaudioDaniele LuchettiThe End Is My BeginningFolco TerzaniJo BaierDiaz – Don't Clean Up This Blood2012Luca GualtieriDaniele VicariMagnificent PresencePietro PontechiavelloFerzan ÖzpetekThe LandlordsEliaEdoardo GabbrielliniThe Fifth Wheel2013ErnestoGiovanni VeronesiLeopardi2014Giacomo LeopardiMario MartoneSuburra2015SebastianoStefano SollimaThe Lady in the Car with Glasses and a GunGeorgesJoann SfarAlaskaFaustoClaudio CupelliniLost and BeautifulSarchiapone (voice)Pietro MarcelloIl sogno di Francesco2016Francis of AssisiRenaud FelyTenderness2017FabioGianni AmelioIt's All About KarmaMario PitagoraEdoardo FalconeIo sono Tempesta2018BrunoDaniele LuchettiLucia's GraceArturoGianni ZanasiThe Man Without Gravity2019OscarMario BonfantiBad Tales2020Bruno PlacidoDamiano and Fabio D'InnocenzoHidden AwayAntonio LigabueGiorgio DirittiRose IslandGiorgio RosaSydney SibiliaAmerica Latina2021Massimo SistiDamiano and Fabio D'InnocenzoLord of the Ants2022Ennio ScribaniGianni AmelioPalazzina Laf2023Giancarlo BasileMichele RiondinoConfidenza2024Pietro VellaDaniele LuchettiSicilian LettersMatteoFabio Grassadonia and Antonio PiazzaThe Great AmbitionEnrico BerlinguerAndrea SegreThree Goodbyes 2025 Antonio Isabel Coixet
Television TitleYearRole(s)Network NotesCornetti al miele1999ErnestoRai 2Television filmPadre Pio: Miracle Man2000Young Padre PioCanale 5Television filmUn medico in famigliaRoberto PalombiRai 15 episodesVia Zanardi 332001IvanItalia 1Main roleIl sequestro Soffiantini2002Paolo SoffiantiniCanale 5Television filmPadriGiacomoRai 12 episodesFerrari2003Teenage Enzo FerrariCanale 5Television filmPaolo Borsellino2004Manfredi BorsellinoTelevision filmDo You Like Hitchcock?2005GiulioRai 2Television filmFaccia d'angelo2012Il "Toso"Sky CinemaTelevision filmIn arte Nino2017Nino ManfrediRai 1Television filmLa Storia2024Giuseppe Cucchiarelli2 episodes
Theatre Year Title Role Regia2000HippolytusHippolytusIvano De Matteo1999–2000Ground & Ground Himself2002The Rules of AttractionSeanLuca Guadagnino2004I racconti dell'IliadeNarratorAlessandro Baricco2008Verona Caput FasciHimself2010–2012 Thom Pain (based on nothing) Thom Pain2011–2016 Journey to the End of the Night Ferdinand Bardamu
Awards and nominations AwardYearCategory Nominated workResultBari International Film Festival2011Best ActorLa nostra vita2015LeopardiBerlin International Film Festival2008Shooting Stars AwardHimself2020Silver Bear for Best ActorHidden AwayCannes Film Festival2010Prix d'interprétation masculine La nostra vitaCiak d'Oro2007Best ActorMy Brother Is an Only Child2012Magnificent Presence2015Leopardi2020Bad Tales2022America LatinaDavid di Donatello2004Best Supporting ActorWhat Will Happen to Us2007Best ActorMy Brother Is an Only Child2011La nostra vita2012Magnificent Presence2015Leopardi2018Best Supporting ActorTenderness2021Best ActorHidden Away2022America Latina2023Best Supporting ActorLord of the Ants2024Palazzina Laf2025Best ActorThe Great AmbitionEuropean Film Awards2007Best ActorMy Brother Is an Only Child2010La nostra vita2020Hidden AwayFICE Awards2005Best New ActorSangue – La morte non esisteGlobo d'Oro2007Best Breakthrough ActorNapoleon and Me2008Best ActorFallen Heroes2011La nostra vita2012Magnificent Presence2016Alaska2024ConfidenzaGuglielmo Biraghi Award2007Best ActorNapoleon and MeKineo Award2008Best ActorMy Brother Is an Only ChildThe Early Bird Catches the WormBest Supporting ActorYour Whole Life Ahead of You2012Best ActorDiaz – Don't Clean Up This Blood2015LeopardiNastro d'Argento2005Best Supporting ActorWhat Will Happen to Us2008Best ActorMy Brother Is an Only ChildFallen Heroes2010Best Actor La nostra vita2012Best ActorMagnificent Presence2014The Fifth Wheel2016Alaska2021Best Comedy ActorRose Island2024Best Supporting ActorPalazzina LafRome Film Festival2024Best ActorThe Great AmbitionTerni Film Festival2016Honorary AwardHimselfVenice International Film Festival2014Pasinetti AwardLeopardiVittorio Veneto Award
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