Aplysia was founded in 2007 as a network of audiovisual professionals coordinated by project manager and producer Giuseppe Petruzzellis. A fluid structure, composed primarily of filmmakers based in Emilia-Romagna. A production network capable of adapting to the needs of any creative project. A working group that brings together complementary artistic sensibilities and technical skills. A platform for experimentation in continuous evolution.
Drawing on the expertise of those involved, Aplysia implements an innovative and flexible working methodology. Adapting to the scale and specific requirements of each project, an ad hoc team is assembled each time, identifying the most suitable technical and artistic resources. This approach has helped numerous collaborations and co-productions at national and international level, with a strong focus on auteur documentary filmmaking and on anthropological, social, artistic and ecological themes.
To date, over 70 film projects have been completed — independently or in collaboration — including 20 feature-length works, both documentaries and fiction. Many of these productions have received awards and recognition at national and international festivals, reaching theatrical and television distribution.
In 2020, Aplysia was formally registered at the Chamber of Commerce of Ferrara (REA FE-222571 / Albo artigiani FE-59944), operating as a film, video and television programme production company (ATECO code 59.11).
Giuseppe Petruzzellis – producer, director, editor, colorist
Lucia Pornaro – producer
Laura Bergamini – editing assistant, production and distribution assistant
Nefeli Polymerou – production and distribution assistant
Awards
2025 · Wind and Water // Best Best Bio to B | Doc Emilia-Romagna Project Award @ Biografilm Festival
2024 · La Ricerca // Grand Prix @ Le FIFA (Canada)
2023 · La Ricerca // Premio Andrea Pazienza @ Premio Libero Bizzarri
2023 · La Ricerca // Miglior Montaggio @ Documentaria
2023 · La Ricerca // Menzione Speciale Hera “Nuovi Talenti” @ BIOGRAFILM
2023 · La Ricerca // Premio Speciale Giuria Giovani @ Visions du Réel (Svizzera)
2023 · Non ti scordar di me // Miglior documentario sperimentale @ DOC.LONDON
2022 · Non ti scordar di me // Miglior cortometraggio @ Segni della notte
2022 · Non ti scordar di me // Miglior film underground @ Los Angeles Super Shorts
2022 · Non ti scordar di me // Miglior film sperimentale @ Verona IFF
2022 · Non ti scordar di me // Miglior montaggio @ Prisma Rome Film Award
2021 · Non ti scordar di me // Miglior cortometraggio @ Mescalito Biopic
2021 · La Ricerca // Premio “L’Atelier” @ Milano Film Network
2021 · Non ti scordar di me // Menzione speciale @ Visioni dal Mondo
2018 · Io ti guardo ogni giorno… // Miglior documentario @ Corti in cortile
2016 · La Ricerca // Selection @ In Progress – Milano Film Network
2016 · La Ricerca // Selection @ Bio to B – Biografilm Festival
2015 · La Ricerca // Best of Fest @ International Movie Trailer Festival
2015 · La Terza Riva // Special Mention @ Verona Video Festival
2015 · La Terza Riva // Best photography @ Corto Tendenza
2012 · The Golden Temple // Best soundtrack @ Sulmonacinema
2011 · The Museum of Wonders // Best Feature @ Salento Film Festival
2011 · The Museum of Wonders // Best Project @ Fantafestival
2011 · Industrial Bay // Slow food award @ Vicoli Corti Film Festival
2010 · Industrial Bay // Hors Pistes award @ Venice Circuito Off
2010 · Terrible Truth // Best editing @ Villanova in Corto
2009 · Industrial Bay // Fai il tuo film award @ Milano Film Festival
2009 · Vida Loca // DocUnder30 award
2008 · Vida Loca // Best doc @ Sedicicorto International Film Festival
2008 · Vida Loca // Fondazione Libero Bizzarri award
Festivals & Markets
Mostra Internazionale del Cinema di Venezia – Giornate degli Autori // Milano Film Festival // Hors Pistes – Centre Pompidou // Visions du Réel // CPH:DOX // Torino Film Festival // Biografilm // Sedicicorto International Film Festival // Visioni Italiane // Venice Circuito Off // Vicoli Corti Film Festival // Ji.hlava IDFF // Sulmonacinema // Genova Film Festival // Salina Doc Fest // Reykjavík International Film Festival // Festival dei Popoli // Corto di sera // Fantafestival // Green Social Festival // Interfilm Berlin // Kaliber35 // Concorto // Shorts Attack // Ischia Film Festival // Bolzano Short Film Festival // Inclusioni Diffuse // Film Festival sul Paesaggio // The Scientist // Corto in mente // Molisecinema // Arcipelago // A corto di Donne // ArtFilm // Nonantola Film Festival // Estate Doc // Document Film Festival // FIDRA // SalaDoc // Doc in Tour // Docucity // International Film Festival of Uruguay // Bergamo Film Meeting // Ciudad Revelades// Urbanize // Verona Video Festival // Corto Tendenza // PerSo Perugia Social Film Festival // International Movie Trailer Festival // Trailers Film Fest // Le FIFA // Los Angeles Super Shorts // Documentaria
Sparring partners
Bloomik – VFX & post production studio
Davide Saggioro / Wise Mastering – fonico, sound designer, mastering studio
Michele Brandstetter De Bellesini – DoP
Francesco Saverio Valentino – cinematographer
Lisa Fierro – consulente artistica
Claudio Curciotti – sound artist, music composer
Alessandro Gaffuri – fonico e sound designer
Julika Ingrassia – producer
EiE Film – produzione
Vessel – produzione
Francesco Ferrara – drone operator
Cinemovel Foundation – fondazione
CFI Centro Formazione Innovazione – training center
CNA Formazione – training center
Caucaso Factory – produzione
Manufactory – produzione
The Natural Dub Cluster – music
Tommaso Alvisi – DoP
Michael Bichel – drone operator
Field Abuse – music
Why Aplysia?
Aplysia is a marine mollusc, belonging to the species commonly known as “sea slugs”. Despite appearances, within its mere 20,000 neurons lie elaborate variable behavioural patterns and flexible long-term memories. The nervous system of Aplysia is a dynamic entity, which learns to modulate its own “language” in response to messages from the outside world, in a way not unlike that of human beings.