Rocco Anelli is an Italian filmmaker, producer, writer, and director based in Rome. He is the founder and CEO of Intermezzo Srl, an independent production company working across development, production, and distribution of cinematic and audiovisual works, with a focus on emerging talent and festival-oriented projects. His work as a director and screenwriter has been presented at major international platforms and festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival (Short Film Corner), the Venice International Film Festival, and the Rome Film Fest. His films include Se fossi uomo (2021), Pier Paolo morto e risorto (2022), winner of the Apulia Film Fund, Vivremo nelle pareti (2024), winner of both the Apulia FIlm Fund and the SIAE “Per Chi Crea” award, and Animalia (2025). Alongside his directing work, he has produced several short films that have circulated internationally, including Sette settimane (dir. Enrico Acciani), presented at the Cannes Short Film Corner and at multiple festivals.
In parallel with his audiovisual practice, he is also a published author. He has published the novel I bagnanti and the essay La costruzione triadica dell’immagine, a theoretical work that explores the processes of image creation through a triadic framework that brings together body, matter, and sound.
Alongside cinema, he is active as a stage director in opera and theatre. His work includes productions of Tosca in Puglia and Basilicata, Rigoletto in Lombardia and Basilicata, as well as La Traviata and other theatrical works, reflecting a broader engagement with prose performance and musical dramaturgy.
For the past several years, he has been an Adjunct Professor of Film at The American University of Rome, where he teaches courses such as Film Directing, Introduction to Filmmaking, and Video Essay Workshop. His teaching combines theoretical reflection with hands-on practice, often integrating the Roman film industry ecosystem into his courses through on-site visits and collaborations.
His research and creative interests focus on the intersection between cinema, poetic language, and visual experimentation, with particular attention to the expressive potential of the short film form. He is also actively engaged in industry practices ranging from production logistics to festival strategy and distribution.
Selected projects and publications
- I bagnanti, novel, 2021, Les Flaneur Edizioni (https://www.lesflaneursedizioni.it/product/i-bagnanti/)
- La costruzione triadica dell’immagine, 2024, Florestano Edizioni (https://florestanoedizioni.com/product/la-costruzione-triadicadellimmagine-corpo-materia-e-suono/)
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