Agnese Fontana was born in Verona, where she attended university with a focus on “Performing Arts,” then graduated in production from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome in 1985.
He established the company FOMAR Film in 1984 which, active until 1996, together with colleagues Andrea Marfori and Marco Isoli, was one of the major points of reference for film and audiovisual production of young emerging talents, including through participation in major international festivals and markets in the field.
He made his film production debut with Andrea Marfori’s Il bosco 1 (Evil Clutch 1988), distributed in Italy by Eagle Picture and worldwide by TROMA Inc, New York.
Agnese Fontana has also made a number of productions in the field of Video Art over the years, first among them Andrea Marfori’s “Wenders in Video” (1986).
He subsequently formed Brooklyn films in 1990, for which he produced The Hammer Case 1991, 90 min. – directed by Guido Chiesa produced by Brooklyn Films, Surf Film, Fomar Film in collaboration with RAI 2, Italian distribution MIKADO Film. SURF film foreign sales. Winner of the 1991 Golden Grolla for best first feature, participated in the 48th Venice International Film Festival and the Palm Springs (USA) and Cairo (Egypt) festivals Nominated for the Silver Cheetah at the Locarno Film Festival. Cast: Alberto Gimignani, Roberta Lena, Felice Andreasi;
and again Flaming Souls – 1994, 95 min. – directed by Davide Ferrario. MIKADO Italian distribution. Foreign Sales JANE BALFOURD, London, participated in the 51st Venice International Film Festival and the Cairo (Egypt) and Sundance (USA) festivals. Cast: Giuseppe Cederna, Elena Sofia Ricci, Monica Scattini, Alessandro Haber.
Among other professional initiatives, Agnese Fontana founded, together with Marco M. Gazzano, KINEMA Associazione Culturale, of which she is vice president, produces and signs the conception of the exhibition IL NOVECENTO DI NAM JUNE PAIK (Palazzo delle Esposizioni – Rome 1992).
From 1993 to 1996 she was a councilor, representing young entrepreneurs, of U.N.P.F./ ANICA.
From 1994 to 1996 he was a member of the jury established at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Department of Performing Arts, for the annual award to authors of screenplays of special artistic and cultural interest.
In 1994 for the WOW-Women onWork association, she is on the team to conceive and implement“Radio, Women and Work,” the first radio course in Italy aimed at women, produced under the European NOW-New Opportunities for Women program. Under the Artistic Direction of Nicoletta Boris, the project is sponsored by the European Union, the Ministry of Labor and the Tuscany Region.
She has been a founding member of theA.P.C. (Association of Film Producers) since 1997.
In 1998, he participated in the development of the project“DAPHNE 1998: RADIOACTIVE, radio against domestic violence,” in which the Ministry of Equal Opportunity, the Tuscany Region, WOW-Women on Work, AREA-radio press agency, Instituto Català de la Dona take part. Artistic Direction Nicoletta Boris.
In 1999, he was a lecturer in charge of Production Organization in the Train the Trainers Program for Educational Audiovisual Campaigns of the KENDRO project, implemented by the COE within the framework of development cooperation (Italy-India), for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Since 1999, she has been a founding member and from 2000 to 2002 she was Vice President of DOC/IT – Italian Documentary Filmmakers Association, of which she then served as Treasurer from 2006 to 2008 and then President from 2015 to 2019.
In 2000 he graduated from the Eurodoc European Documentary Producers Course.
In the same year he joined the board of directors of F.I.d.A: (Italian Audiovisual Federation) as a delegate for DOC/IT.
Since October 2000, he has been a production consultant at the National Film School Foundation for Production and Cultural Promotion – Experimental Center of Cinematography.
In 2006 he ported as Executive Producer, for Donatella Palermo’s A.S.P., Vittorio De Seta ‘s last film work – Letters from the Sahara, as well as Notturno bus – 2007, 105 min. – Directed by: Davide Marengo, Produced by EMME Srl, Executive Production A.S.P. Srl, Prod. Delegate to the set. First Italian film to be released in theaters in China after a twenty-year absence.
From 2007 to 2011, he was responsible for project development and deputy producer for Ager 3 Srl and Kaos Cinematografica S.r.l., for which he acted as deputy producer:
Escapes and Landings – 2010, 81 min. – Directed by: Giovanna Taviani, Produced by Kaos Cinematografica
The Father and the Stranger – 2009, 110 min. – Directed by: Ricky Tognazzi, Produced by Ager3 and RAI Cinema, Distributed in Italy by 01 Distribution.
Red sky at night – Red sky at night – producer – 2022 directed by Emanuele Mengotti, written by Emanuele Mengotti, Marco Toma Tomaselli and Emanuele Svezia. Italian-American co-production, Le TALEE SRL – Smoke & Mirror Llc
Hui He a Soprano from the Silk Road – author and producer – 2017, 88 min. Directed by Andrea Prandstraller and Niccolò Bruna. From an idea of Rosario Di Girolamo. Co-produced by LE TALEE and SUNNYWAY in Association with DocLab, in collaboration with RAI Cinema. Silk Road International Film Festival 2017. Biografilm Festival Art&Music 2019, Cinema of iDEA Special Event 2019.
MagicArena, – author and producer – 2014, 90 min. Directed by Andrea Prandstraller and Niccolò Bruna, Produced by LE TALEE in association with K+, in collaboration with Fondazione Arena di Verona, Foreign Distribution WIDE HOUSE Paris. 36th Cairo International Film Festival 2014; Biarritz – FIPA – Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuel ; BIF&ST – Bari International Film Festival ; Minneapolis S.Paul International Film Festival ; Seattle International film Festival
The Island of the Fallen Angel – Delegated Producer – 2012 80 min directorial debut by Carlo Lucarelli Rome Film Festival, in competition.
Caesar must die (Caesar must die) – Delegated Producer – 2012, 76 min.-directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, Produced by Kaos Cinematografica in association with Le Talee and Stemal Intertainment, in collaboration with Rai Cinema, distributed in Italy by Sacher Distribuzione, foreign distribution Rai Trade. Golden Bear at the 2012 Berlinale, Ecumenical Jury Award – David of Donatello 8 nominations, 5 awards – Satellite Award best foreign film nomination – European Film Awards 3 nominations – Silver Ribbons Ribbon of the Year and Special Award – Golden Globes 2 nominations – Golden Ciak 3 nominations and 3rd prize – European Independents Film Critics Award 6 nominations 2 awards – New York Film Festival Main Slate – Trailers FilmFest 2 nominations – Lux Award best picture nominee.
Escapes and Landings – Delegated Producer – 2010, 81 min. – Directed by: Giovanna Taviani Produced by Kaos Cinematografica, distributed in Italy by Cinecittà Luce and RAI Cinema
The Father and the Stranger – Proxy Producer – 2009, 110 min. – Directed by: Ricky Tognazzi Produced by Ager 3 and RAI Cinema, Distributed in Italy by 01 Distribution,
Letters from the Sahara – Executive Producer – 2006, 90 min. – Directed by: Vittorio De Seta Produced by A.S.P. Distributed in Italy by Cinecittà Luce
Piedmontese of Argetina – Producer – 2005, 52 min. – Directed by: Alberto Signetto, Co-produced by Brooklyn Films with Instituto Multimedia – Der Hum ALC (Argentina)
Anatomy of a massacre – Producer -2005, 52 min. – Directed by: Andrea Prandstraller; Co-produced by Brooklyn Films with Ager 3, in collaboration with FOX INTERNATIONAL CHANNELS for Pay TV Mondo broadcast.
Under the black sun (Under the black sun) – Producer – 2004, 90 min. – directed by Enrico Verra, produced by Brooklyn Films and developed with the support of the EU Media Programme written by Enrico Verra, Marco Videtta and Luca Rastello.
Memory archive: Italian Portraits. Executive Producer – 2000/2002, documentary series, 50′ x 14. – produced by National Film School Foundation – Experimental Center of Cinematography
Rita Levi Montalcini, directed by Virgilio Tosi
Vittorio Foa, by Paul Ginsborg, directed by Giuseppe Bertolucci
Mario Monicelli, by Alessandra Levantesi, directed by Riccardo Milani
Ettore Scola, by Gianni Canova, directed by Roberto Giannarelli
Gillo Pontecorvo, by Irene Bignardi, directed by Marco Turco
Age & Scarpelli, directed by Paolo Virzi
Dino Risi, by Valerio Caprara, directed by Marco Risi
Suso Cecchi d’Amico, directed by Enzo Monteleone
Nino Manfredi, by Gianni Canova, directed by Luca Manfredi
Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, by Lorenzo Cuccu, directed by Luciano Odorisio
Francesco Rosi, directed by Roberto Andò
Tonino Guerra, directed by Antonietta De Lillo
Giuseppe Rotunno, by Sergio Toffetti, directed by Mauro Conciatori
Ennio De Concini, by Callisto Cosulich, directed by Franco Brogi Taviani
I can’t get enough (Can’t get enough) 1999 – producer – documentary, 78 min. Directed by Guido Chiesa and Daniele Vicari. Winner of the “Cipputi Award” at the “Torino Film Festival 1999.” Italian distribution: Pablo s.r.l.
Pole Pole 1996 Executive producer – 89 min. – directed by Massimo Martelli. Co-produced by PALOMAR, Pistoia &Scotti and Compact. Cast: Fabio Fazio, Geoffrey Oyer, Luciano Manzalini and Juliet Akinyi. Italian distribution: Cecchi Gori Group Tiger.
It gets worse than that. Producer Delegate – 1995, 90 min. – directed by Marcello Cesena; A co-production Angel Film, Palomar, RAITre (Rome), Banfilm, La Sept Cinema (Paris), Mate Productions (Madrid), Canal+, La Sept Art, Canal+ España, Euroimages Cast: Carla Signoris, Maurizio Cozza, Ugo Dighero, Mauro Pirovano, Marcello Cesena, Jacky Nercessian, Rossy De Palma, Gisella Sofio Isa Gallinelli, Mauro Marino, Massimo Olceste, Adolfo Margiotta. Distribution Italy LUCKY RED
Flaming Souls – Producer – 1994, 95 min. – directed by Davide Ferrario. MIKADO Italian distribution. Foreign Sales JANE BALFOURD, London, participated in the 51st Venice International Film Festival and the Cairo (Egypt) and Sundance (USA) festivals. Cast: Giuseppe Cederna, Elena Sofia Ricci, Monica Scattini, Alessandro Haber.
Babylon (Lies To Live By) – Producer – 1993, 97 min. – directed by Guido Chiesa. Brooklyn Films and PALOMAR s.r.l. co-production. Foreign sales JANE BALFOURD, London. He participated in the following festvals: XI Torino Film Festival, Rennes (France), Porto (Portugal), Annecy (France), Gotteborg (Sweden) Cairo (Egypt), Rio de Janeiro (Brasil), NICE New York (USA)
Beyond the night – Producer – 1993, 90 min. – directed by Rosario Montesanti. Produced in collaboration with RAI 1.
The power of the earth (Energy !!! The movie) – producer – 1993 90 min – directed by Andreas Marfori. Produced by FOMAR Film. Screenplay by Andreas Marfori and Billy Da Mota. Interpreters Timothy Leary , Carmen Burcea e Vittorio Catti
Recommendation – Producer – 1991, short film, 16 min, directed by Antonio Leotti
The Martello case – Producer – 1991, 90 min. – directed by Guido Chiesa produced by Brooklyn Films, Surf Film, Fomar Film in collaboration with RAI 2, Italian distribution MIKADO Film. SURF film foreign sales. Winner of the 1991 Grolla d’Oro for best first feature, he participated in the 48th Venice International Film Festival and in the Palm Springs (USA) and Cairo (Egypt) Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) festivals. Cast: Alberto Gimignani, Roberta Lena, Felice Andreasi;
The Rhythm of Silence (Port of Crime) – Producer – 1989. 90 min. – directed by Andrea Marfori, produced by FOMAR films, Italian distribution Istituto LUCE
The Woods 1 (Evil Clutch) – Producer -1988. 90 min. directed by Andrea Marfori. Produced by FOMAR films, Italian distribution Eagle Picture, foreign sales Troma INC N.Y (USA)
