Francesco Carrozzini

Francesco Carrozzini
Carrozzini in 2017
Born	(1982-09-09) September 9, 1982 (age 39) Monza, Italy
Alma mater	University of California, Los Angeles University of Milan
Occupation	Film director photographer
Spouse(s)	Bee Shaffer ​ (m. 2018)​
Parent(s)	Franca Sozzani (mother)
Relatives	Carla Sozzani (aunt) Anna Wintour (mother-in-law)

Francesco Carrozzini (born September 9, 1982) is an Italian-born director, photographer and philanthropist currently based between Los Angeles and New York City.

Early life[]

Carrozzini was born in Monza, Italy. The son of Franca Sozzani, former editor-in-chief of Italian Vogue, he grew up in Milan. He began taking pictures and making short films with friends in his early teens. In the summer of 1999, he relocated to Los Angeles to study film at the University of California, Los Angeles. He later returned to Italy to study philosophy at the University of Milan before moving to New York City in 2004 to assist photographers such as Bruce Weber and Peter Lindbergh.[citation needed]

Career[]

Film[]

Carrozzini's first film job came at age 19, when he directed a 30-second promo for Italian MTV. In 2005, commissioned by advertising agency McCann Erickson, he created a commercial for the 51st Venice Biennale.^[1] He traveled to Poland the following year to shoot a documentary about the life and creative process of the Polish .^[2] Later that year, he collaborated with The New York Times on the creation of a project that became known as “The New York Times Screen Tests,”^[3] a collection of intimate video interviews with entertainment figures that included Natalie Portman,^[4] Charlize Theron, and Marion Cotillard. The series received a nomination in the "New Approaches - Daytime Entertainment" category at the 37th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.^[5]

In 2008, Carrozzini directed the short film "1937", a psychological thriller shot in Suite #822 of the infamous Chelsea Hotel, which screened in competition at the Venice Film Festival.^[6] In the years since, he has directed commercials for clients such as Apple Music, Fiat 500 and Tommy Hilfiger. In 2009, his Ray Ban promo "Color Goes Pop" received a Young Director Award nomination at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.^{[citation needed]}

In 2013, he began directing music videos and has collaborated with musicians Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Marilyn manson and Lenny Kravitz, amongst others.

In 2016, Carrozzini debuted his first feature-length film, a documentary focusing on the life and legacy of his mother entitled Franca: Chaos and Creation.^[7] The film, which took Carrozzini roughly six years to complete, highlights the groundbreaking accomplishments of Sozzani's career in fashion publishing while also exploring the more personal relationship between a mother and her son. Franca: Chaos and Creation premiered on September 2, 2016 in the "Cinema Nel Giardino" category at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival and received praise from several prominent members of the fashion industry, with Suzy Menkes describing it as "a powerful personal journey".^[8][9][10] The film hosted its North American premiere as part of the Hamptons International Film Festival on October 8, 2016^[11] and was featured at AFI Fest in Los Angeles. The film also screened at festivals in Mumbai, Denver, Vancouver, and Palm Springs. In March 2017, the film was honored with a Nastro d'Argento presented by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists.^[12] The film was released digitally worldwide across Netflix, Amazon and iTunes on October 1, 2017.^[13][14]

As of January 2021 Carrozzini is in preproduction with his second feature film, an adaptation of "Midnight Sun" by best selling author Jo Nesbø.^[15][16]

Photography[]

Carrozzini is also known for his portrait photography; he has photographed a diverse range of contemporary pop culture icons including actors Angelina Jolie, Robert De Niro, Cate Blanchett, and Scarlett Johansson; models Naomi Campbell, Heidi Klum,^[17] Linda Evangelista,^[18] Milla Jovovich,^[19] Stephanie Seymour and Tyra Banks; musicians Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey,^[20] Sting, Keith Richards,^[21] Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Nicki Minaj, as well as artists Jeff Koons, Richard Prince, Andres Serrano,^[22] and Marina Abramović.^[23]

He has also worked several political figures; among them, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair, former Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,^[24] and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.^[25]

Carrozzini's images have appeared on the covers and in the pages of: Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, W, Rolling Stone, L'Uomo Vogue, Vogue Italia and Pop, among others. His advertising client list includes Apple Inc., Estee Lauder, Biotherm, Sony Music, Mini Cooper, Roberto Cavalli, Ermenegildo Zegna, Salvatore Ferragamo, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi's, Baume & Mercier and Chopard.

Other ventures[]

The Franca Sozzani Fund for Preventive Genomics at Harvard[]

In 2019 Francesco, joined by Harvard geneticist Robert C. Green^[26] and investor D.A. Wallach, launched the "Franca Sozzani Fund for Preventive Genomics" ^[27] at Harvard Medical to bring preventive genomics to patients everywhere.

Franca Sozzani, Francesco's mother, made a remarkable impact on global culture during her 28 years as the legendary editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia. And outside of fashion, she was a relentless champion of justice and human progress: a global ambassador against hunger for the United Nations World Food Programme, a supporter of AIDS research, and a chair of the European Institute of Oncology. Franca recognized that fashion and creativity held a unique power to deliver social messages, and in groundbreaking issues of Vogue Italia used beautiful images to explore difficult topics from oil spills to domestic violence.

Tragically, Franca succumbed to a rare cancer in 2016 that might have been prevented with earlier medical surveillance. Such is the case for thousands of patients around the world today who lack access to the proven risk-assessment and diagnostic toolkit that preventive genomics offer.

Extraordinary discoveries in genomics from the past two decades have not yet made it to average patients, remaining largely trapped in a research context in elite academic institutions. Routine medicine today extends to patients a mere sliver of the potential benefits of genetic sequencing, failing to recognize the demonstrated value of full-spectrum sequencing of over 5,000 genes that can predict disease, reproductive, and pharmacological risk in every patient. Misconceptions within the medical community, misrepresentations in the commercial sector, and confusion within governments have all delayed the implementation of these proven technologies and clinical care protocols.^[28]

Creative Direction[]

2016 Carrozzini has worked as freelance creative director for brands such as Adidas and Peroni.

2015 Carrozzini has provided creative direction to the Connect4Climate program, a global initiative launched by the World Bank and the Italian Ministry of Environment that seeks to take on the challenge of climate change by promoting solutions and empowering people to act.^[29]

Personal life[]

In September 2013, Carrozzini was included on Vanity Fair's International Best Dressed List.^[30]

Carrozzini married Bee Shaffer in 2018, the daughter of Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and child psychiatrist David Shaffer.^[31]

Videography[]

Year	Project
2017	Jay-Z, "ManyFacedGod"
2015	Sia, "Fire Meet Gasoline"
2015	Marilyn Manson, "The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles"
2014	, "Coming Down"
2014	Nicki Minaj, "The Pinkprint Movie (Part II: I Lied)"
2014	Damian Marley, "Is It Worth It? (Gunman World)"
2014	Lenny Kravitz, "New York City"
2014	Lana Del Rey, "Ultraviolence" [32]
2013	Beyoncé: "Jealous"[33]
2013	A$AP Rocky: "Phoenix"[34]

Filmography[]

Year	Project	Notes
2018		Virtual Reality film, VR Competition, 75th International Venice Film Festival
2016	Franca: Chaos and Creation	Feature documentary, Official Selection, 73rd International Venice Film Festival
2008	The New York Times Screentests	Emmy Award-nominated series
2008	1937	Short Film Competition, 65th International Venice Film Festival
2007	Wierszalin	Short documentary, Official Selection, 60th International Locarno Film Festival

Cinematography[]

Date	Project	Notes
2015	Janis: Little Girl Blue	Director: Amy J. Berg

Exhibitions[]

• September 2015: Solo photography and film exhibition, "Music", Earth Gallery, Paris^[35]
• May 2015: Solo photography exhibition, "Portraits", Istanbul'74 Arts Festival, Istanbul^[36]
• January 2012: L'Uomo Vogue cover shots included in Sotheby's charity auction celebrating the magazine, Paris^[37]
• May 2010: Solo photography exhibition, "Portraits", Diane Von Furstenberg Gallery, New York^[38]
• May 2007: Solo photography exhibition, "Unique Exposure", Galleria Cardi, Milan^[39]
• March 2004: Video installation "Pause", , Milan^{[citation needed]}

Awards[]

• In February 2016 Carrozzini and his team received an award from Global Green acknowledging the achievements for work done with Connect4Climate, part of the sustainable branch of the World Bank.
• In 2017 Carrozzini's movie Franca: Chaos and Creation was awarded the Nastro D'Argento (Silver Ribbon) by the Italian Film press.

Venice Film Festival Jury[]

• In 2019, Carrozzini served as juror at the 76th Venice Film Festival alongside Laurie Anderson and Alysha Naples.

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Francesco Carrozzini at FMD