Francesco and Antonio Sperandeo present:
Bab Al Samah
BAB AL SAMAH, Francesco Sperandeo’s first short film as a director, scriptwriter and producer, has been very successful, collecting a lot of selections and awards in international film festivals and screenings all over the world (United Stated, Middle East and Russia inclusive).
Synopsis
Mehdi’s desire for redemption from a humiliating past, symbolised by an heavy, old door leads him on a cathartic journey that results in the destruction of the door with purifying fire.
About the film
BAB AL SAMAH, Francesco Sperandeo’s first short film as a director, scriptwriter and producer, has been very successful, collecting a lot of selections and awards in international film festivals and screenings all over the world (United Stated, Middle East and Russia inclusive). As finalist for the “Nastro d’Argento” (Union of Journalists Award) in 2008 he received a special mention for its “Narrative and Technical Structure” defined as having a rare quality, by the same Jury of Journalists. The “Michelangelo Antonioni Award” at the ItaliaFilmFest 2009 by Felice Laudadio decreed it as the best short film produced in 2008. Recently Francesco has won two Awards at Babelgum Film Festival: The “International Jury Award” as Best Film in Short Section and the prestigious “Looking for Genius Award” assigned by Spike Lee in person as the Best Film in the festival, received in the splendid contest of the TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL.
About the Director:
Francesco Sperandeo was born in Palermo, Italy on 16 February 1979. He took his high school certificate from Classical High School and then enrolled in an Mechanical Engineering degree course. His passion for cinema and the visual arts caused him to abandon his studies and relocate to Rome to participate in various internships about Direction and Cinema Organizzation. In just a few months he joined the production group of the film ‘Pinocchio’ directed by Roberto Benigni. This was followed by a series of jobs as second and first assistant director. Among the directors he has cooperated with we can quote the Oscar © Award Winners Giuseppe Tornatore and Roberto Benigni. From 2007 he has taught “Direction” and “Organisation and management of the shooting of audiovisuals” for specialistic courses in collaboration with Palermo University (Art, Music and Show Department). Besides his work as first assistant director he is working on the scriptwriting of original short and feature films. Various projects are in progress, including a feature film whose shooting will take place between Europe and Middle East.
