Nicola Rinciari

SELECTED HONORS

I’m Nico, a director and previs/layout artist from Palermo, Italy. I’m currently a BAFTA Newcomer Director based in Los Angeles.

I’ve recently completed my first feature film, starring Jake Lacy and Nazanin Boniadi, and produced by Darren Dean (THE FLORIDA PROJECT) and Joe Thomas (MONKEY MAN). The film is being distributed theatrically and digitally by Narrative Distribution in the U.S., and internationally by Fandango S.P.A.

I have worked as a lead and senior previsualization artist at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, DreamWorks Feature Animation on THE WILD ROBOT and RUBY GILLMAN TEENAGE KRAKEN, at Disney Feature Animation, and in live action previs with some of my credits including THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER, INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY, and FAST X.

In my work, I aim to show the audience a piece of our reality from a different perspective. I start with an issue, a topic, a feeling, and transform it into a story that connects with the viewer both on an intellectual and an emotional level. 

Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, “A Mosquito in The Ear” - 2026

BAFTA Newcomers Program, Director - 2022

Winner for “Best Scripted Series” at the “College Television Awards” presented by the Television Academy Foundation; “Our Side” - 2022

Finalist at the Student Academy Awards; “Our Side” - 2020, Los Angeles

Bronze Award for Best Directing at the Telly Awards; 2020

Accepted to the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival; “The Pages of Destiny” - 2021, Cannes, France

Winner at the USA Film Festival; “Our Side” - 2021, Los Angeles

Nominated at the Southeast Student Emmy; “Our Side” - 2021, Georgia

Semi-Finalist at Giffoni International Film Festival ; “The Pages of Destiny.” - 2020, Salerno

Best Student Short, at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival; “Our Side” - 2020, Los Angeles

Winner at the Milan Gold Awards, “The Pages of Destiny” - 2021, Milan, Italy

Winner at the IndieFEST Film Awards, “The Pages of Destiny” - 2021, La Jolla, CA

Winner at the Hollywood Gold Awards, “The Pages of Destiny” - 2021, Los Angeles

Nominated at the FILCKFAIR Film Festival; “The Pages of Destiny” - 2021, Los Angeles

Nominated at the Los Angeles Italia - Film, Fashion and Art Festival; “Our Side” - 2021, Los Angeles

Nominated at the BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival; “Our Side” - 2021, Cary, NC

Nominated at the Rome Int. Film Festival, “The Pages of Destiny” - 2021, Rome, GA

Nominated at Sunscreen Film Festival; “The Pages of Destiny” - 2021, Florida

Nominated at the Silicon Beach Film Festival; “The Pages of Destiny” - 2021, Los Angeles

Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for the School of Entertainment Arts at SCAD.

Diamond Jury Prize at Tulipani Di Seta Nera Film Festival ; “Our Side” - 2020, Rome

Best Student Film at the Milan Film Awards ; “Lovers Go to Mars.” - 2019, Milan

Outstanding Achievement Award; Berlin Flash Film Festival; “Story of a Whisper” 2018, Berlin

Special Mention; One-Reeler Short Film Festival;  “Story of a Whisper” - 2018, Los Angeles

Mention of Merit for Editing; Southern Short Awards;  “Story of a Whisper”- 2018, Georgia

Mention of Merit for the Soundtrack; Southern Short Awards; “Story of a Whisper”- 2018, Georgia

Official selection; Rome Independent Prisma Awards; “Story of a Whisper”- 2018, Rome, Italy

Official selection; Directors Circle Festival of Shorts; “Story of a Whisper” - 2018 , Online

Semi-finalists; LosAngeles Cinefest;  “Story of a Whisper”- 2018, Los Angeles

Official Selection; ARFF Amsterdam International Awards; “Story of a Whisper” - 2018, Amsterdam

Official Selection; Heritage Film Festival;  “Story of a Whisper”- 2018, Maryland

Finalist; I Corti dei Fabbri International Film Festival; “Story of a Whisper” - 2018, Trieste, Italy

Best Story Concept; Clara Morello Competition; “The Sailing Ship” - 2017, Palermo, Italy

Best Cinematography; Corti dei Fabbri International Film Festival; “The Sailing Ship” - 2017, Trieste, Italy

Official Selection; Tuscany Web Fest International Film Festival; “The Sailing Ship”- 2017, Lucca, Italy

Best Short Film; Citizenship Promotion Competition; “Color Your World” - 2017, Palermo, Italy

Best Book Trailer; City-Wide Contest; “100 Books” - 2015, Palermo, Italy

Best Video, Regional road safety promotion competition; “Only One Chance” – 2015, Sicily, Italy