bio
graphy
Alex Camilleri
is a Maltese-American writer,
director, and producer.
His debut feature, LUZZU, premiered to wide acclaim at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Award for Acting. The film has been released in cinemas around the world (rated “100% Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes®) and was Malta’s submission to the 94th Oscars®. Camilleri is the winner of the 2022 “Someone To Watch” Independent Spirit Award and a 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship. He is repped by WME and is currently preparing his sophomore feature.
reviews
“An unaffected triumph with a simmering power...a stirringly nuanced and dazzlingly shot humanistic drama.”
- — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times
“Crafted with humanistic grace... Understated in a way that would make the gods of neorealism proud. A ravishing portrait of tradition in transition.”
- — RogerEbert.com
“This accomplished debut from Maltese-American filmmaker Alex Camilleri profiles little-represented lives with intelligence and integrity.”
- — Guy Lodge, Variety
“Alex Camilleri's locally made vérité tale discovers a knockout performance in a real-life fisherman from Malta.”
- — Ryan Lattanzio, Indiewire
“Cinematic magic. Stunning newcomer Jesmark Scicluna... will remind you of Daniel Day-Lewis.”
- — Kurt Brokaw, The Independent Magazine
“A moving tale of real-world strife... part observational drama, part social thriller.”
- — Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter
“The kind of film Roberto Rossellini would have made if he were still alive today.”
- — Jordan Ruimy, World of Reel
“One of my favorite discoveries out of Sundance this year”
- — Alex Billington, Firstshowing.net
"A poignant and deeply touching tale of humanity.”
- — Ryland Aldrich, Screen Anarchy 
“Alex Camilleri's Luzzu truly is the real deal”
- — Shaun Munro, Flickering Myth
"Crafting an intimate drama… Alex Camilleri is making an incredibly promising debut."
- — Fabien Lemercier, Cineuropa
“Gritty yet quietly powerful drama”
- — Todd Jorgenson, Cinemalogue
Awards
- USA
- USA
- USA
- UK
- USA
- Japan
- Spain
- USA
- Norway
- Bulgaria
- Italy
- Ukraine
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USA
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USA
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- UK
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USA
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Spain
. - USA
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Norway
. - Bulgaria
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Italy
. - Ukraine
- Sundance Film Festival - Special Jury Award, Acting
- Film Independent Spirit Awards - Winner, “Someone To Watch”
- New Directors/New Films
- BFI London Film Festival
- Independent Boston Film Festival - Special Jury Prize & Audience Award
- Skip City Digital FF - Grand Prix
- Mostra de Valencia - Best Director Award
- Annapolis IFF - Best Feature Film
- Kosmorama Trondheim IFF - Audience Award
- Sofia IFF - Young Jury Award
- Lucca IFF - “Marcello Petroziello” Press Award
- Kiev Molodist - Special Jury Mention
- & more
- USA - Sundance Film Festival - Special Jury Award, Acting
- USA - Film Independent Spirit Awards - Winner, “Someone To Watch”
- USA - New Directors/New Films
- UK - BFI London Film Festival
- USA - Independent Boston Film Festival - Special Jury Prize & Audience Award
- Japan - Skip City Digital FF - Grand Prix
- Spain - Mostra de Valencia - Best Director Award
- USA - Annapolis IFF - Best Feature Film
- Norway - Kosmorama Trondheim IFF - Audience Award
- Bulgaria - Sofia IFF - Young Jury Award
- Italy - Lucca IFF - “Marcello Petroziello” Press Award
- Ukraine - Kiev Molodist - Special Jury Mention
- & more