Background
He’s the grandson of writer and journalist Luigi Barzini, Junior.
He’s the grandson of writer and journalist Luigi Barzini, Junior.
His first feature documentary "United We Stand", about post 9/11 America and the War in Iraq was selected for the 60th Venice International Film Festival making him one of the youngest filmmakers to attend the festival. In 2004 he was one of seven contestants on the reality show Quinto Potere which aired on Fox Life (Italy). Quinto Potere was the first television talent show for filmmakers and journalists.
He was often criticized for not being in line with the channel’s editorial guidelines.
In 2008 he produced and directed his second feature documentary Change, about the Obama McCain United States presidential election in 2008. The documentary premiered on May 15, 2010 at the Rome Independent Film Festival distributed by Cinecittà Luce.
On February 24, 2012 the Italy–United States of America Foundation and Cinecittà Luce organized the event “From Bush to Obama, ten years of America, stories and images from the documentaries United We Stand and Change by Matteo Barzini”, inside the Chamber of Deputies (Italy). In 2013 he co-directed his third feature documentary Medè about the Camorra in Naples.
lieutenant premiered at Rome Independent Film Festival on April 9, 2012.
In 2014 he created the short film about the Syrian Civil War: The Quake. The short film premiered on the 8th of february, 2014 during the roman premiere of George Clooney"s film Monuments Men.
Venice International Film Festival (2003) Official Selection United We Stand New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (2004) Honorable Mention United We Stand Potenza International Film Festival (2004) Official Selection United We Stand Rome DocFest (2006) Best Editing Hip Hop Diaries Rome Independent Film Festival (2010) Official Selection Change Potenza International Film Festival (2010) Official Selection Change Rome Independent Film Festival (2013) Official Selection Medè (Mayday).
