Career
Born in Catanzaro, Petitto was a graduate of the National Film School in Rome, Italy (Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia), also holding a bachelor"s degree in Law, he has served as a director, producer, and editor on several short and feature-length films both documentary and fiction, some of which have gained critical International acclaim. Mostly active in human-rights related filmmaking, his former works have focused on children"s rights abuse, civilian war victims, mental disorders, international politics, corruption and were produced in collaboration with European and American broadcasters such as British Broadcasting Corporation, ZDF, Radiotelevisione Italiana, Public Broadcasting Service, TVO, YLE, CANAL+. He currently lives and works in Rome, Italy.
Presenting the award to the filmmaker was venerable United States. director Arthur Penn, who praised the documentary, saying, "Making a documentary like this, takes another kind of courage.
lieutenant takes the courage to say that this story is not known widely enough. This story needs to be told.
This is a film that never flinches. I promise you." Source: Human Rights Watch
He received a public endorsement by Martin Scorsese that read: "This is a brave, intelligent, tough movie that must be seen, now more than ever.
Much more than just a piece of reporting, it is a very human portrait of the people of Afghanistan, and the horror of living in a state of never-ending war." Source: Human Rights Watch.