biography

Paoli De Luca (1999) was born in Naples and grew up in the suburbs of Portici. After classical studies in their hometown, they graduated with honors from the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, where they developed the photonovel Fera (2018), presented at the Naples Film Festival. Meanwhile, they worked in the art field with their illustration and photography works, both behind and in front of the camera. In 2022 they wrote and directed the short movie Echoes (2021), presented at the Cineteca of Bologna, during the Divergenti Transgender Film Festival. In a layered, embryonic imaginary of different media and narratives, transgender bodies and desires are the main elements that mark Paoli’s first works and poetic as an openly transgender and non-binary young film director. Since 2022, they’re studying Film Direction at Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome. Their short movie Star (2024) was premiered at the Cinema Troisi and screened at other italian Film Festivals. Marina ( 2025) is their latest short film and will premiere at 2025 Venice International Film Festival.