Silvia Maglioni is a contemporary Italian film director, screenwriter, and video artist. Born in Rome in 1972, she grew up in the city's outskirts, where the living conditions of the lower classes brought her in touch with the city’s darker side. After earning a degree in literature in Rome, she moved to Paris to pursue her passion for cinema.
Maglioni began her career as an assistant director in the late 1990s, working on films such as The Dreamers (2001) and L'appartement (2002). In 2003, she made her directorial debut with the short film, The Bridge. The film was an experimental exploration of the relationship between sound and image, and was highly acclaimed at film festivals worldwide.
In 2006, Maglioni wrote and directed her first feature-length film, The House of Others. The film was a surrealistic exploration of the Italian immigrant experience, and featured a largely unknown cast. The House of Others was critically acclaimed, and won several awards, including the Italian Golden Globe for Best New Director.
In 2012, Maglioni wrote and directed the documentary film, The Disappearance of the Universe. The film juxtaposed interviews with those affected by the economic collapse of Italy with archival footage and personal accounts, exploring the impact of the crisis on the country’s social fabric. The film was a critical success, and won the Grand Prix at the Locarno International Film Festival.
In recent years, Maglioni has continued to explore themes of social displacement and identity in her work. Her most recent film, the short documentary Limbo (2019), explores the lives of undocumented migrants in Italy. The film was praised for its intimate and nuanced portrait of the immigrant experience.
Throughout her career, Maglioni has continued to push the boundaries of documentary and narrative filmmaking. Her films are often characterized by a powerful visual style and an exploration of themes of alienation, displacement, and identity. Her work has been widely praised for its boldness, intelligence, and emotional resonance.
