Italian cinematographer Clarissa Cappellani served her apprenticeship as camera assistant for DOPs Gigi Martinucci and Caroline Champetier, while filming television documentaries for Rai and Sky Arte.
As camera operator she worked with DOPs Gherardo Gossi, Daniele Ciprì and Hélène Louvart.
Her first feature film as director of photography was the debut feature by Salvo Cuccia, Hidden Identity (33rd TFF Torino Film Festival 2017 - official competition, Annecy Film Festival 2017 - Prix Special du Jury).
In 2019 she shot Last Words (Festival de Cannes 2020 - official selection) by American filmmaker Jonathan Nossiter. Based on a novel by Santiago H. Amigorena, this futuristic film features a distinguished cast including Nick Nolte, Stellan Skarsgård, and Charlotte Rampling.
In 2023 she collaborated with the renown Egyptian artist Wael Shawky, making the photography of his film I am Hymns of the New Temples (Rotterdam Film Festival 2024), the first artwork produced in the programme of the contemporary art collection for the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
In 2024 she received a Silver Ribbon nomination (the oldest Italian Cinema Award presented by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists) for the cinematography of Misericordia (PÖFF Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2023 - Best Movie), by acclaimed Italian director and playwright Emma Dante. Cappellani has cultivated a long-standing collaboration with Dante, having previously served as camera operator on her two earlier feature films: A street of Palermo (Venice Film Festival 2013 - official competition) and The Macaluso Sisters (Venice Film Festival 2020 - official competition).
Her most recent film, Brides, directed by British filmmaker Nadia Fall, has been premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival 2025.
Alongside the work as feature film director of photography, she lensed a wide range of documentaries directed by prominent filmmakers such as Sabina Guzzanti, Federica Di Giacomo, Adele Tulli and Luca Guadagnino.
NOMINATIONS AND AWARDS
Efebo d’Oro Film Festival 2024 - Award Mestieri del Cinema, Winner
Silver Ribbon 2024 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists - Best Cinematography for Misericordia, Nominated
Festival di Spello 2024 - Award Albero della Vita - Best Cinematography for Misericordia, Winner
WORKS
FEATURE FILM
Brides Dir. Nadia Fall | Neon Films, Rosamont
Sundance Film Festival 2025 - World Cinema Dramatic Competition
I am Hymns of the New Temples Dir. Wael Shawky | Audioimage
Rotterdam Film Festival 2024
Misericordia Dir. Emma Dante | Rosamont
PÖFF Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2023 - Best Movie, Best Actor
Festival del Cinema di Spello 2024 - Best Director of Photography
Silver Ribbon 2024 - Best Cinematography, Nomination
Last Words Dir. Jonathan Nossiter | Stemal Entertainment, Le Film d’Ici
Cannes Film Festival 2020 - official selection
Hidden Identity Dir. Salvo Cuccia | Abra&Cadabra, Shoot&Post
33rd TFF Torino Film Festival 2017 - official competition
Annecy Film Festival 2017 - Prix Special du Jury
DOCUMENTARY
The Open Couple Dir. Federica Di Giacomo | Nemesis
Giornate degli Autori 2024 - opening film
REAL Dir. Adele Tulli | Film Affair, Pepito Produzioni
Locarno Film Festival 2024 - competition Cineasti del Presente
Festival Film Villa Medici - Jury Prize
International Documentary Festival Amsterdam 2024 - official selection
The King Who Never Was Dir. Beatrice Borromeo Casiraghi | MDE
Netflix (3 episodes), 2023
Cuntami, Sicilia! Dir. Giovanna Taviani | Cloud 9 Film
Giornate degli Autori 2021
Festival Internacional del Cine Monterrey 2022 - Encuentro International de Mujeres en el Cine
The Palace Dir. Federica Di Giacomo | Dugong
Giornate degli Autori 2021
Annecy Cinema Italien 2021 - competition
Open Roads New Italian Cinema, New York 2022 - Panorama
Salvatore: Shoemaker of dreams Dir. Luca Guadagnino | MeMo films
Venice Film Festival 2020 - official selection
Silver Ribbon 2020 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists - Best Documentary
Provincetown International Film Festival 2022 - Int. Comp.
Melbourne International Film Festival 2022 - Doc. Comp.
Telluride Film Festival 2022 - Panorama
Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival 2022
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2023
Sofia International Film Festival - Fashion Gala
DocAviv 2023 - Masters
New Zealand International Film Festival 2023
Portland / Phoenix / Detroit Italian Film Festival 2024
Normal Dir. Adele Tulli | Film Affair, AAMOD, Minollo Film
Berlin Film Festival 2019 - selection “Panorama”
CPH:DOX Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival 2019
Annecy Cinema Italien 2019 - Italiani brava gente
Crossing Europe Film Festival Linz 2019 - European Panorama Documentary
Festival du Film Italien de Villerupt 2019 - Panorama
Italian Doc Fest Moscow 2019
Open Roads New Italian Cinema, New York 2019
Sarajevo Film Festival 2019 - Kinoscope Real
Taipei Film Festival 2019 - Reality Bites
Thessaloniki Documentary Festival 2019 - International Competition
BIFF Bogotà International Film Festival 2019 - Insumi@s
San Diego Italian Film Festival 2020
L'inganno – conversation pieces Dir. Ferdinando Cito Filomarino
2013, Enormous Film, Fendi
Rome Film Festival 2013 - Ritratti di Cinema
Summer 82 when Zappa came to Sicily Dir. Salvo Cuccia
2013, Abra&Cadabra
Festival di Venice Film Festival 2013 - official selection
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival 2014 - New Docs
Pantalla Pinamar International Film Festival 2014
Franca, la prima (Franca, the first) Dir. Sabina Guzzanti | Secol Superbo e Sciocco
Rome Film Festival 2011 - documentary competition
Draquila – Italy Trembles Dir. Sabina Guzzanti | Secol Superbo e Sciocco
Cannes Film Festival 2010 - Séances Spécial
CPH:DOX Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival - Amnesty Award
Filmfest München 2010 - international programm
New Zealand International Film Festival 2010 - Panorama
Espoo Cine International Film Festival 2010 - Dokumentit
Annecy Cinema Italien 2010 - Evénement
Warszawski Festiwal Filmowy 2010 - Wszystkie
The Times BFI London Film Festival 2010 - Cinema Europa
Festival du Film Italien de Villerupt 2010 - Panorama
Cinema - Festival Transmediterranee 2010 - Panorama
Cine d’Essai 2010 - Panorama
Stockholm International Film Festival 2010 - Spotlight
Sevilla Festival de Cine 2010 - Eurodoc
Ljubljana International Film Festival 2010 - Premiere
International Film Festival of India 2010 - Cinema of the World
This Human World 2010 - Dokumentarfilm
Festival do Rio 2010 - Dox
AstraDoc 2011 - Panorama
Desrealidad 2011 - Panorama
One World International Film Festival 2011 - Portraits of Corruption
Movies That Matter Festival 2011 - international competition
One World in Brussels 2011 - competition
Istanbul International Film Festival 2011 - Documentary Time
HotDocs Toronto 2011 - Made in Italy
Festival Documentaire de Lasalle en Cevennes 2011 - ARTE
Jameson Belfast Film Festival 2011 - Politics and Film
Festival du Film de Femmes Méditeranée Marseille 2011
Traverse City Film Festival 2011
Per chi suona la campanella (For Whom the Little Bell Tolls) Dir. Alessandro Di Gregorio | Wilder
Tv doc, Rai 3, 2009
Housing Dir. Federica Di Giacomo | BBfilm
Locarno Film Festival 2009 - Ici et Ailleurs
CPH:DOX Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival 2009 - Urban Change
Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival 2010 - Panorama
Festival Cinematografico Internacional de Uruguay 2010 - Panorama
Festival Histoire d’Italie Le Nouveau Documentaire italien 2010
Dox Box 2010 - official selection
Nododocfest 2010 - Panorama
Docs Barcelona 2010 - Italy Focus
Documentarist 2010 - Kent Ve Sinema
MARFICI 2010 - Documentales Fuera de Competencia
Reykjavik International Film Festival 2010 - New Visions
Focus Italia Cinematacea Uruguaya - ItaliaDoc 2010
HotDocs Toronto 2010 - Made in Italy
Annecy Cinema Italien - Viaggio in Italia
The Grotesque Side of Life Dir. Federica Di Giacomo | Di Giacomo
Torino Film Festival 2006 - Cipputi Award, Avanti Award
Mostra International de Cinema de Sao Paulo 2007 - Competition New Directors
Festival Cinematografico International de Uruguay 2008 - Doc Competition
8744 Dir. Alessandro Di Gregorio | Alhambra Factory
History Channel, 2006
SHORT FILM
Cowboy Billi Dir. Federico Gianni | Kino Produzioni
Venice Film Festival 2024 - Critic’s Week - official competition
Mostra de Cinema Italià de Barcelona 2024
Festival Ecrans Mixte 2025 - Courts Européens
Zabut Dir. Giuseppe Schillaci | Pinup Filmmaking
Lake Travis Film Festival 2022
Santorini Film Festival 2022
Frontiera (Border) Dir. Alessandro di Gregorio | Emma Film, Kavac Film
Venice Film Festival - Critic’s Week 2018 - official competition
Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival 2020 - international competition
Moscow International Film Festival 2019
Tangier Mediterranean Short Film Festival 2019 - Best Director / Best Actor
David di Donatello 2019 - Best Short Film