Biography
Luca Nappa is an award-winning Italian writer/director based in London, known for his deep expertise in working with non-professional and young performers, and for his distinctive approach to blending genre with personal experience and elements of magical realism.
A member of DIRECTORS UK, Luca was recently commissioned to write and direct several short films for the prestigious Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Among these, Shortage (11’) earned him Best International Director at the Texas Short Film Festival 2025, as well as Best Comedy Film at both Georgia Comedy 2025 and Portland Comedy Film Festival 2024. The film was a semi-finalist at the BIFA-qualifying Kino London 2024, and selected by BFI-funded MiraBan UK, Matera Film Festival, and Ischia Global. It was later acquired by MYMOVIES, Italy’s largest film platform, and had its global premiere on the acclaimed YouTube channel OMELETO in February 2025.
His previous short, Warriors of Sanità, enjoyed a highly successful festival run, winning the Grand Prize at the OSCAR/BAFTA qualifying Rhode Island Film Festival, the Rai Cinema Award at Giffoni Film Festival, and Best Southern Italy Short at Sele d’Oro. The film was acquired for distribution by RAI CINEMA and later picked up by OMELETO, where it has amassed over 47,000 views.
Luca’s debut feature script, Deep South, was recently selected as the UK Winner at the JETS Initiative during the Berlinale. The project has attracted interest from major commissioners and sales agents, and was shortlisted for the London Production Finance Market 2024.
In the TV world, Luca recently completed a shadowing placement with BAFTA-nominated director Ben A. Williams on the APPLE TV series Criminal Record, following a year-long mentorship with BAFTA-winning director Jonny Campbell (Westworld, Dracula). As part of this mentorship, Luca shadowed Campbell throughout the shoot and edit of his STUDIOCANAL feature Cold Storage.
Trained by renowned acting coach Miranda Harcourt (Big Little Lies, The Lord of the Rings), Luca is currently developing his next project, to be filmed in Southern Italy in 2025, under the continued mentorship of Jonny Campbell.
