Matteo Garrone (b. 1968, Rome) studied fine arts. He began working in 1986 as an assistant cameraman while continuing his painting. His first feature film Land in Between (Terra di mezzo) took the Special Jury Prize at Torino’s International Festival of Young Cinema in 1997. Subsequent films were also well received on the international festival circuit, such as the documentary Oreste Pipolo, Wedding Photographer (Oreste Pipolo, fotografo di matrimoni), the feature film Guests (Ospiti) and particularly the drama The Embalmer (L’imbalsamatore, 2002), which was included in the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes in 2002 and KVIFF’s Horizons section in 2003. Karlovy Vary audiences also had the opportunity to see his award-winning First Love (Primo amore, 2004 – Silver Bear for Best Film Music at the Berlinale), Gomorrah (2008, Grand Prix at Cannes) and Reality (2012, Grand Prix at Cannes). (KVIFF)