Born in Rome in 1968, son of a theatre critic and a photographer, Matteo Garrone graduated from the Art Lyceum in 1986, dedicating his free time to painting. Received his first recognition in 1996 winning the Sacher d’Oro, award sponsored by Nanni Moretti (‘Mia Madre’, ‘The Son’s Room’), and eventually became a two-time winner of the Grand Prize of the Jury at the Cannes Film Festival with ‘Gomorrah’ in 2008 and ‘Reality’ in 2012. Known for always working as a camera operator for his own movies, hand-held camera being his trademark, he was a member of the jury at 2012’s edition of the Venice Film Festival.