Carlotta Cerquetti is a director and filmmaker born in Rome, Italy.

After graduating in classical studies, she studied photography at Istituto Europeo di Design. In New York City, she was assistant to the fashion photographer Hiro.

As a freelance photographer she  worked for italian magazines Epoca and L’Espresso.

In 1994 she earned a Certificate in Filmmaking at New York University. She directed documentaries and short films awarded at festivals worldwide.

Her second short film Binari (Railway tracks) was selected by the New York Film Festival and screened at Lincoln Center before the world’s premiere of Milos Forman’s The People VS Larry Flynt, introduced by Oliver Stone.

Her documentary Harry’s Bar was awarded the Open Prize at Venice Days (Giornate degli Autori), had a special mention at Nastri D’Argento (Silver Ribbons)  and has been part of the Netflix catalogue.

She was twice finalist at David di Donatello awards, with Binari and Harry’s Bar. 

Her documentary Linfa premiered at Rome Cinema Fest 2018 and is still available on the Prime Video catalogue.

She won the Rossellini Prize with her documentary Ageroland.

She served as second unit director in feature films Quando la notte, Latin Lover, Il treno dei bambini by Cristina Comencini and as first assistant director in Un giorno speciale by Francesca Comencini.

She is part of the David di Donatello Jury and a member of European Film Academy.

She has been part of the Executive Board of Women in film Television & Media Italia.

In 2025, she co-produced the documentary Toni, My Father by Anna Negri, which was selected by Venice’s Giornate degli Autori and is distributed by Wanted Cinema.

DOCUMENTARIES

Notte Fuori (2025). Production: Zebra Productions, Binario 95.

• Special mention @ Roma Green Film Festival

Linfa (2018). Production: Piano F, Far Out Films, Amarcord.

• Festa del Cinema di Roma, Lovers Film Festival, Vox Feminae Festival Zagreb, Proiezione per le scuole presso l’Accademia di Francia Villa Medici. Streaming on Prime Video.
  

Harry’s Bar (2015). Production: Wider Films.

• Nomination David di Donatello 2016, Premio Open Venice Days 2015, Special Mention Nastri D’Argento 2016.  Broadcast: Canale 5, Sky Arte. On Netflix Italy catalogue 2017/2018
  

Ageroland (2012). Production: Dream Film.

• Premio Rossellini 2013, Special Mention Ischia Film Fest, Lab 80 Prize Napoli Film Fest.

Il nostro Rwanda (2007). Co-directed with Cristina Comencini. Production: Cattleya.

• Rome Film Festival 2007 Alice nella città.

Drag queen college (2003). Co-directed with Serena Castana. Self produced.

• Selected by Terry Gilliam for Umbria Film Festival 2004.

Mestieri nell’ombra (2002). Self produced.

• Broadcasted on Rai 2, Puntodoc.

SHORT FILMS

Zanele Muholi – Undoing invisibility (2023). Video for Artribune.com

The Golden Bough by Giosetta Fioroni (2014). Production: Maison Valentino.

Fuochino (1998). With Angela Baraldi. Production: Talunafilm.

• Nomination David di Donatello, Special Mention Capalbio Cinema, Best Screenplay Valdarno Cinema Fedic, Best Actress Trevignano FilmFest.

Binari (1996). With Anna Bonaiuto, Toni Bertorelli. Production: Film Trust.

• New York Film Festival, Best European Short Bruxelles Film Festival, Best Italian Short Capalbio Cinema.

Interno 12 (1995). Production: Comida95.

• Akman Award Antalya Film Festival, Best First Film Valdarno Cinema, Special Mention Capalbio Cinema.

MUSIC VIDEOS

2023 – Moving Forward. Filippo Clary featuring Lady-Z

2019 – Vieni a prendermi. Lilith Primavera, Matteo Gabbianelli.

2017 -The making of Eclipse by Chiara Civello. La Repubblica.

2017 – Cuore in tasca. Chiara Civello, Sony Music.

SECOND UNIT DIRECTOR

Il treno dei bambini (2024). Feature film by Cristina Comencini. Prod. Palomar, Netflix

Latin Lover (2014). Feature film by Cristina Comencini. Prod. Lumière

Quando la notte (2011) Feature film  by Cristina Comencini. Prod. Cattleya

FIRST ASSITANT DIRECTOR

Un giorno speciale (2012), feature film directed by Francesca Comencini. Prod. Lumière

OTHER WORKS

2025 – Co-producer of documentary Toni, mio padre by Anna Negri.

2020 – Artistic collaboration with Fariborz Kamkari on the documentary Kurdbun – Essere curdo

2012 – Mai più complici – with singer Gianna Nannini. Campaign against violence against women.

2011 – 2016 Filmmaker for Se non ora quando, feminist political movement.

2011 – Director: LIBERE, play by Cristina Comencini, Teatro Sannazaro di Napoli.

2007 – Programming office at Venice Film Festival. Retrospective: “Western all’Italiana”.

2001 – 2002 – Director of documentaries for Rai Sat Cinema.

2000 – Promoter for Stream pay tv.

1998 – Promoter for Telemontecarlo.

Carlotta Cerquetti & Sabato Cuomo attending Ischia Film Festival, where docufilm AGEROLAND was awarded the jury’s Special Mention.