Riccardo is a Grierson nominated filmmaker working in documentary and fiction. He is a full BAFTA member and BIFA voter with a keen interest in supporting underrepresented stories and talent. Coming from a working class background he knows how hard it is to break into the business and loves helping others to do so. He started life in the industry as a runner in the corporate sector and over the last 15 years he has worked across all sectors of the industry, first as an editor and now with a focus on directing, producing and editing documentaries and has so far directed two features for theatrical and broadcast. He has worked with notable companies such as Netflix, BBC, Apple, ITV, BFI, Channel 4 and many more. He was mentored by the founder of Salon Pictures, Nick Taussig (McQueen, Churchill, Audrey) and then worked as a Development Producer until Salon folded in January 2023.
Riccardo’s directing style is a mix of free flowing and beautiful considered compositions, presenting his work with empathy and an inquisitive mind using an observational and conversational style that isn’t rooted in bias or agenda. His work has been described as intimate, sensitive and insightful and mostly focuses on the human condition and raising awareness, often using metaphors and poetic imagery to create immersive work that helps make abstract ideas and situations more accessible to a wider audience, focusing on giving people a platform to tell their side of the story and their truths.
He directed feature documentary ‘A Space in Time’ (2021) with Nick Taussig, to raise awareness of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The film was theatrically released, nominated for “Best Single Documentary” at the prestigious Grierson British Documentary Awards in 2022 and won best director at Shared Visions NIFF 2020. The film was originally acquired by Amazon Prime in the UK and US and now available to watch for free on Waterbear or on BFI Player. It garnered positive reviews in The Guardian, Total Film, Little White Lies, Sight & Sound and many more.
Most recently he directed and edited documentary ‘Dwarf Story’ (2024) for Embankment Films exploring the repercussions of certain treatments on the rise for children with achondroplasia and the part media representation has played in influencing society’s viewpoint. The film had it’s UK Premiere at the Odeon Luxe West End as part of the Little Venice Film festival and won three awards including Best Documentary and the Disability Experience Award. It is currently on the festival circuit where it has been picking up multiple awards and an International theatrical release will be announced soon. In November 2024, a cutdown of the film aired on ITV as a one hour special in the UK.
He is also a co-founder, producer and Head of Growth and Relationships at Production Studio and Creative Development Hub, Anima Entertainment in the UK, focusing on producing commercial scripted genre projects and documentaries for global audiences. He is responsible for building new relationships and growing Anima's business across their scripted and documentary slate and as a Producer he focuses on their documentary output.
As well as editing his own films, he also edits for other productions, most recently BAFTA Cymru nominated Apple TV + Original documentary Charlie Mackesy: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and Me available on Apple TV + globally. Artist and illustrator Charlie Mackesy takes us on a journey through his life, revealing the events that inspired his bestselling book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse and the making of the Oscar winning animation of the same name.
As an editor he has also worked with notable Directors including Rob Savage (Host, Boogeyman) and Kate Herron (Loki). Editing short films that have screened all around the world including ‘Healey’s House’ and ‘Dawn of the Deaf’ which was also selected for Sundance 2017. You can find more of his editing work here.