Diana Cignoni is a multifaceted artist, boasting a diverse range of talents as a film director, producer, and actor. As a member of Film Fatales Los Angeles, she is part of a community that empowers women in the film industry. Cignoni's exceptional skills have earned her recognition, including being selected for the Panavision New Filmmaker Program Grant.
Prior to her career as a director, Cignoni enjoyed a successful modeling career, working with renowned clients such as Trussardi, Giorgio Armani, Escada, and Christian Dior. She also acted in both Europe and America for many years. This extensive acting background has undoubtedly influenced her directorial style, which is characterized by a unique voice developed under the guidance of esteemed mentors like Charlie Laughton, Penelope Allen, Geraldine Baron, Lance Lane, Mark Rydell, and Martin Landau at The Actor's Studio.
As a talented actress, Cignoni has won numerous awards, including accolades as a KOAN member of the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble in Los Angeles under the direction of Ron Sossi. Her performances have been recognized with nominations, such as the 2019 Stage Raw Theatre Awards for "Best Leading Female Performance" in Faith Healer. In 2022, she took on the lead role in Pinter's A Kind of Alaska in Wakings! at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles, followed by her performance in Elephant Shavings, a play written and directed by Ron Rossi at the Odyssey Theatre in 2023.
Cignoni's commitment to the arts has led her to become a board member of the Odyssey Theatre, where she aims to further enhance the ensemble with her many artistic talents. Born and raised in Germany, she now resides and works in Los Angeles, where she is the founder and CEO of Ground Hero Film, an indie film production company in Santa Monica.
As an award-winning filmmaker, Cignoni's debut narrative feature film "One Weekend" was released on demand by Stadium Media after premiering at SaMo Indie, where it won the Audience Choice Award. The film has since screened in dozens of other film festivals worldwide, including the China Woman's Film Festival, SMC Film Club, Sir Charlie Darwin Movie Battle, Big Island Film Festival, and Julien Dubuque International Film Festival.
Cignoni's documentary film "Perfect" premiered at SaMo Indie, winning the Best Feature Length Film and Audience Choice Award. Her previous short film "Palm Trees" won the Best Narrative Short award at SaMo Indie and has been screened in film festivals globally, including the Hollywood Boulevard Film Festival, TIF Video Challenge, Ozark Shorts, and UCFF Dublin.
