About Francesco Tortorella
Tortorella is a multi-talented creative professional, Director, and Producer with over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Born in 1985, and based in Rome. With a strong background in visual arts, his expertise spans from concept development to animation, post-production and VFX, working across film, events, art, and television.
He has led projects as an Art Director and Creative Director with top brands and studios across Europe, China, and the Middle East, specializing in motion design, animation, and video production. Co-founder of Made On Vfx (2013-2020), he directed the award-winning short “La Grande Onda” (2020), which earned over 25 international awards.
At Bottega DAO, he drives forward-thinking projects at the intersection of art, Web 3, and AI. Deeply committed to social themes, he has also been involved in teaching young people, and fostering their creative development.
He collaborates with top agencies and creators worldwide, always open to new opportunities and creative challenges in art and storytelling.
Artist Statement
With an unapologetic representation of sexual phantasies, taboos, and vulnerabilities, my work wants to highlight freedom of expression in its purest form.
A blunt sense of emancipation can in fact be found in the depiction of the human body with its natural imperfections and body hair and in particular the female one.
This is a clear critique of society’s physical standards, which are an aberration of reality, and only one of the many social conventions that are imposed on us. A brutal sensual frankness and a disarming sense of sarcasm in my work underline our inhibitions and fears, forcing the spectator to face them, and demonstrating how life must and need to extend beyond these imposed stereotypes.
The same call for freedom can be found in some of my political work, where I addressed topics such as feminism, the annexation of Crimea, or the latest conflicts in Afghanistan. Another recurring theme of mine is the representation of hands, which are without a doubt both a universal and personal metaphor for freedom and a tool that can represent who we are because of what we decide to use them for. A faceless portrait of our humanity.
Although having a predilection for classical print, I work with different techniques to represent the individual narrative of each subject, and I find that digital media allows me more immediacy. This grants me to capture the instant that I want to portray, creating a recognizable style between all of my works, which are characterized by quick and unaltered raw lines.
beyond imposed social conventions
AWARDS
Best Italian Short – Scario Film Fest 2021
Critic Award – Cinemì Cinema 2021
Premio Cafiero – Out of Bounds Film Festival 2021
Best Animated Film – Mediterraneo Festival Corto 2021
Menzione Speciale – Premio AMC – Shorts International Film Festival 2021
Best Animated Short Film – Accordi@Disaccordi Festival 2021
Best Animated Film – Ischia Film Festival 2020
Best Italian Short Film – Sedicicorto International Film Festival 2020
Best Short Film – Reggio Calabria Film Festival 2020
Best Animated Short Film – Cortodino Dino De Laurentis Film Festival 2020
Best Animated Short Film – Cortisonanti International Film Festival 2020
Best Animated Short Film – Coffi Cortoglobo Film Festival 2020
Best Animated Short Film – Foggia Film Festival 2020
Best Animated Short Film – Adriatic Film Festival 2020
Best Calabrian Short Film – Castovillari Film Festival 2020
Best Short Film in Calabria – Calabria Movie International Film Fest 2020
Honorable Mention of the Jury – PFA 2020
Honorable Mention of the Jury – Capodarco Film Festival 2020
Silver & Bronze Spikes – Branded & Entertainment – Spikes Asia 2014
Golden Lion – Branded Entertainment – Cannes Lions 2013
The Media & Interactive Award – 43rd Creativity International Award 2013
Best Direct Mailing Campaign – Premio Agorà 2013
Best Music Video – Marte Live 2013
Filmography
Shuffle (2007) – Writer and Director
Petrolino (2012) – Executive Producer Post-Production, Art Director
Waste Africa (2013) – Co-Executive Producer for Visual Effects
La Grande Onda (2020) – Writer, Director, and Producer
Goodbye Strangelove (2024) – Writer, and Director
Blue Sky, No More (In Development) – Writer and Director, 2024
ART EXhibitions
Cesco Solo Expo – Atelier 35, Roma – Feb 2010.
Love for Sale! Poster Exposition – Al Bar, Reggio Calabria – 2012.
The Greatest (Im)Perfection is Love – Solo Show – Zajia, Beijing – 2013.
It’s April Fools’ Day! Rare Tempo Gallery Opening, Denver, USA – 2017.
Out – Art Mall, Milano, 2022.
NFTs are Dead – Galleria Borbonica, Napoli, 2022.
BAW Bolzano Art Weeks, 2022.
Iran Rising – Georgetown, Washington DC, 2022.
art Auctions
Pandolfini Auction House – Digital Invasion (Lot 13)- It, May 2023
Studio Partnerships
Tortorella Studio is a creative hub where art, animation, and storytelling converge to craft impactful visual experiences. We specializes in transforming complex ideas into captivating narratives. Supported by an international network of talented professionals, We deliver bespoke solutions in animation, design, and visual storytelling, blending artistic vision with technical expertise to bring stories to life across a variety of media.
Creative & Art Direction
Whether it's animation, live-action production, live event, or any creative project, we develop original concepts, defining both the style and artistic vision.
Production Oversight
With deep expertise in directing animation, video productions, and events, we manage the creative process from start to finish, ensuring a cohesive vision throughout.
Network
A skilled network of professionals across various fields, ensuring the creative team consistently meets the highest standards.