Claudio Amendola’s visit to Giffoni 2017, at the end of which he was awarded the Giffoni Experience Award, started with a standing ovation by the Masterclass youths. “I’d already been told that no other festival can make you feel the same emotions as the Giffoni Festival, but being here in person is an amazing experience. If this is just the beginning, they were totally right”, commenced the actor, almost embarrassed by such a warm welcome.

At Giffoni Masterclass 2017 Amendola retraced his career as an actor, dubber and director, which started quite by chance when his mother, Rita Savagnone, asked him a favour. “I left school early but back then, unlike now, there was no concern about not being able to find a job. I happened to go for an audition and, almost unbeknown to me, I ended up being an actor”.

In the 80s he first appeared in a few comedies by the Vanzina brothers, but soon there was a turning point: “I was destined for a satisfying career in Christmas family films, when I received a phone call by producer Claudio Boninvento, who, at the time, had equally been dealing with unsophisticated comedies”. The trio was completed by Marco Risi, who directed him in Soldati – 365 all’alba (1987) and Mery per sempre (1989): “The former film gave me a smattering of this job, but it was Mery per sempre to make me decide to become an actor. Together with Ricky Tognazzi’s Ultrà, Risi’s films opened my mind to a new kind of cinema”. Passing from Scola to Mazzacurati, he also worked with Wilma Labate, director of the film that satisfied him the most, Domenica (2001). His career is now aiming at film direction: “I started working in direction to put into practice all I learnt on set along the years, keeping my eyes open and my mouth shut. I also wanted to satisfy my egocentrism: it’s cool to be surrounded by 80 people who want answers from you”.

Before receiving the Giffoni Experience Award, Amendola left his message to the jurors: “You proved your cleverness and freedom of thought through your questions. I wish you to become tomorrow’s film-makers. With you, cinema will never end”.