Donato Rotunno, a renowned figure in the world of filmmaking, has had a illustrious career spanning over three decades. His journey began with a graduation from the prestigious Louvain-la-Neuve Institute of Broadcasting Arts (IAD) in 1992. This marked the start of his entrepreneurial endeavors, as he went on to co-found Tarantula Luxembourg in 1995 and its sister company Tarantula Belgium in 1996.
In 2011, he established Tarantula Distribution, a significant milestone in his professional journey. His involvement in the production industry also led to a partnership with other Luxembourg producers to oversee the Filmland Studios in Kehlen, Luxembourg, in 2013. As a testament to his dedication to his craft, Donato Rotunno is an EAVE graduate, a Member of the European Film Academy, and has been serving as the President of the ULPA (Luxembourg Union of Audiovisual Producers) since March 2023.
Throughout his illustrious career, Donato Rotunno has produced and co-produced over 50 feature films, many of which have received critical acclaim and recognition at prestigious film festivals. Some notable examples include "Private Property" by Joachim Lafosse, "A Wedding" by Stéphane Streker, "Fire Will Come" by Oliver Laxe, "Two of us" by Filippo Meneghetti, "Blanquita" by Fernando Guzzoni, and "Holly" by Fien Troch.
In addition to his work as a producer, Donato Rotunno has also pursued a career as a documentary and fiction film director. His journey as a director began with his graduation short film, "Nebbiolo Rosso," which won the best short film award at the Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur. Since then, he has directed documentaries that tackle pressing issues in Luxembourg society, such as immigration and the role of politics, as well as hybrid works that blend the worlds of contemporary art.
His feature film debut, "In a Dark Place," won the best artistic contribution award at the Lëtzebuerger Filmpräis in 2007. His second film, "Baby(a)lone," an adaptation of the novel "Amok" by Luxembourg writer Tullio Forgiarini, was selected for numerous international festivals and represented Luxembourg at the 88th Academy Awards in the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category. His third film, "Io sto bene," starring Marie Jung, Renato Carpentieri, and Sara Serraiocco, enjoyed a worldwide success and represented Luxembourg at the 94th Academy Awards.
