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Biography

Learn more about the award-winning film director

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Roberto I. Ercolalo (born February 21, 1992 in Buenos Aires) is an Italian-Argentine entrepreneur, philanthropist, traveler, director, writer, editor, and producer of short films.

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He completed a 13-session masterclass in "Creativity and Film" with director David Lynch (New York, USA), and a 30-session masterclass in "Filmmaking" with director Martin Scorsese (New York, USA).

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Nominated for an Academy Award®, Canadian Screen Award®, and BAFTA® Qualifying Film Festival in the United States (Rhode Island International Film Festival). Winner of 21 official IMDb film festivals and with 27 nominations, his works have obtained 190 international laurels in 34 countries.

In 2024, he was named "Master of Cinema" at the 8th Kolkata International Cult Film Festival, adding this recognition to various Honorable Mentions he received in the US, France, Canada, and the Netherlands. For several years, he has promoted national unity through cinema and forged ties with renowned international festivals in the United States, Egypt, the Netherlands, Mexico, Romania, and the Philippines.

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​​* Judge of the Durban International Film Festival 2023 (Official Academy Awards®, Qualifying Festival).
* Judge of Los Angeles CineFest 2018-2022 (California, USA). 

* Honorary Member of Los Angeles CineFest since 2025 (California, USA). 
* Director and Founder of the Madrid Film Awards - MADFA®. It is one of Europe's most diverse film festivals, with more than 100 countries participating in the competition.

* Co-founder and Director of the Buenos Aires International Film Festival - BUEIFF®. The world's first continental traveling film festival with venues in Argentina and Spain​

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​He awards the Madrid Film Awards (MADFA®) Honorable Mention, the Festival's highest distinction, to individuals who have achieved excellence. In 2023, he presented to the Mexican actor Edgar Vivar ("El Chavo del 8"; "El Chapulin Colorado"; "El Chanfle", etc.), and in 2025, he presented it to the British legend Sir Ian McKellen ("Lord of the Rings"; "X-Men"; "The Da Vinci Code", Etc.)

Firsts Short Films

 

- He has received over 20 personal awards as a director and several others as a writer at many film festivals around the world. His first short film (Job Life) surpassed 100 international distinctions.
- The tour of "Nature" (his second short film, and the first with Italian nationality) traveled through several international competitions. In this work, he expresses his particular vision of art and resources. Made it in black and white, without a single dialogue, focusing on the communicative power of images and BSO. 
- "Pedidos", a Spanish short film from 2021. This is his first color short film, precisely in the times of COVID-19, when the world "turned gray". Nominated for an Academy Award® and BAFTA® qualifying festival, has won several awards in twelve different countries and has been recognized at all film festivals to which it has been sent. ​

- "El Proceso" is his most recent short film. It has been sent to various official qualifying festivals for BAFTA® and Academy Awards®, collecting awards from more than 10 countries.

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Film Promotion Initiatives:

 

- In 2022, the Madrid Film Awards (MADFA), in conjunction with the Argentine University Residence Hall in Madrid, created a special award bearing his name (the "Roberto Ercolalo Award - Argentina") to support young Argentine filmmakers whose circumstances prevent them from affording a regular film ticket. Entry is always free, nominees will have their films screened in Spain, and they will receive free accommodation in Spain. The winner will be announced at the event and will receive the MADFA Golden Crown on Madrid's Gran Vía. Roberto has stated that this initiative "is a way of giving him the opportunity he didn't have while living in Buenos Aires." Because of the responsibility this entails, he personally evaluates each submission and selects the five best films for screening.

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He has presented his works at the Press Palace on the Gran Vía in Madrid, Spain, and he was invited to prestigious film festivals in New York, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Moscow, Alexandria, Roma, Delhi, Amsterdam, San Sebastian, Bucharest, and Marbella, among others.

       Personal Awards:

  • Nomination by the Academy Award, Candian Screen Award, and BAFTA qualifying film festival Rhode Island International Film Festival (United States)

  • Special Recognition "Maestro of Cinema" for the Calcutta International Film Festival (India)

  • Winner of "Best First Time Director" at the European Cinematography Awards (Warsaw, Poland)

  • Winner of "Best First Time Director" at the Independent Shorts Awards (North Hollywood, USA)

  • Winner of "Best Short Script" at the Independent Talents International Film

  • Winner of "Best Director" at Great Message International Film Festival (Pune, India)

  • Winner of "Best Story" at the Film For Peace (Canada)

  • Winner of "Best Director" and "Best  Screenplay" at The Continental Film Festival (New York, USA)

  • Winner of "Best First Time Director of the Year" at The Continental Film Festival (New York, USA)

  • Certificate of Excellence at the Noida International Film Festival (Noida, India)

  • Certificate of Excellence at the Delhi Shorts International Film Festival (Delhi, India)

  • Certificate of Excellence at the Global India International Film Festival (Pune, India)

  • Certificate of Excellence at the Great Message International Film Festival (Pune, India)

  • Nominee of "Best Director of the Year" at Great Message International Film Festival (Pune, India)

  • Nominee of "Best Director" at the Independent Shorts Awards (North Hollywood, USA)

  • Nominee of "Best Original Story" at the Independent Shorts Awards (North Hollywood, USA)

  • Nominee of "Best Director" at the European Cinematography Awards (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

  • Nominee of "Best Director" at Prague International Film Festival (Czech Republic)

  • Nominee of "Best First Time Director" at the New York Cinematography Awards (New York, USA)

  • Nominee of "Best Editing" at the European Cinematography Awards (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

  • Nominee of "Best Short Script" at the Las Vegas Global Film Convention (Las Vegas, USA)

  • Nominee of "Best First Time Director" at the Golden Earth Film Award (USA)

  • Nominee of "Best First Time Director" at the Aphrodite Film Awards (New York, USA)

  • Nominee of "Best Director" at the Aphrodite Film Awards (New York, USA)

  • Nominee of "Best Director" at the European Cinematography Awards (Amsterdam, Netherlands 2020)

  • Official Selection "Best Debut Director" at the Noida International Film Festival (Noida, India)

  • Official Selection "Best Debut Director" at the Delhi Shorts International Film Festival (Delhi, India)

  • Official Selection "Best First Time Director" at the 6 On Nebraska (Belville, South Africa)

  • Official Selection "Best Short Script" at the Lebanese Film Festival (Lebanon)

  • Official Selection "Best Director at the Malabo International Music & Film Festival (Equatorial Guinea)

  • Official Selection "Best Director" at the White Deer International Film Festival (United Kingdom)

  • Official Selection "Best Director"  at the Focus International Film Festival (USA)

© 2025 Roberto I. Ercolalo - Writer, Director & Producer
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