Filmmaker and AUR adjunct professor Rocco Anelli, this month presented his latest short film Animalia at a side event of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival - one of the most prestigious platforms for world cinema. The presentation included a press event featuring an interview with Rocco and the cast.
The recognition marks a milestone for Anelli, who only six years ago graduated from The American University of Rome’s Film program (Class of 2019) and returned in 2024 as a professor on the very course that helped launch his career.
Anelli’s trajectory reflects his dedication to his craft whilst also exemplifying the creative energy fostered at AUR. While still a student, he penned I Gemelli (“The Twins”), which reached the finals of the Festival of European Cinema in 2020, demonstrating an early ability to craft stories that resonate beyond the classroom – a skill further demonstrated in 2021 with the publication of his first novel, I bagnanti. In the years since, he has directed opera productions in Puglia and Milan, collaborated on documentaries in Kenya and Morocco, and steadily developed a portfolio marked by bold storytelling and technical skill. Recently, another of Rocco's short film, Vivremo nelle pareti ("We Shall Live in the Walls"), was made available for streaming on RaiPlay after reaching the finals at the Tulipani di Seta Nera Festival, powered by Rai.
With Animalia, Anelli continues to expand his voice as a filmmaker. The short film’s selection at Venice signals international recognition of both his artistic maturity and the strength of the creative network he has built since his days at AUR.
In 2024, Anelli returned to The American University of Rome as an adjunct professor in the Film program, closing the circle from student to mentor. For current students, his presence in the classroom offers a direct link between study and practice: learning from someone who has stood where they stand and who now brings film set and festival-level experience into their lectures and workshops.
“I learned at AUR that the best stories are often the hardest to tell—and that vision is more important than convenience,” Anelli has said. “That lesson continues to shape my work, and it’s what I hope to pass on to my students.”
Anelli’s story reflects the character of AUR’s Bachelor of Arts in Film, which combines rigorous technical training with creative exploration, all in the heart of one of the world’s most cinematic cities. Faculty members - including directors, screenwriters, producers, and sound specialists such as Victor Rambaldi, Theron Patterson, and Brian Koperski - bring international experience into the classroom, ensuring students are prepared to navigate the industry with confidence.
Hands-on learning is a defining feature: AUR students write, shoot, edit, and produce from their first semester, while Rome itself serves as both backdrop and inspiration. Internships with organizations like Cinecittà, National Geographic, and Italian broadcasters provide professional grounding that complements classroom work.
From graduate to professional filmmaker to professor, Rocco Anelli’s journey illustrates how AUR empowers students to develop into artists who make their mark on the global stage. His Venice premiere is both a personal triumph and a reflection of the program’s broader mission: to nurture storytellers who are at once technically capable, creatively ambitious, and globally engaged.
Animalia is distributed by Pathos Distribution, one of the leading companies in Italy specializing in the distribution of short films.