Roberto De Paolis on Cinema, Inspiration, and the Future of Art

Italian filmmaker Roberto De Paolis, born in Rome in 1980, studied at the London Film School before working as a photographer and actor. He debuted as a director in 2017 with "Cuori Puri," which won national and international recognition, followed by "Princess" in 2022. In an interview for Futuro Antico, De Paolis cites Michelangelo Antonioni, the Dardenne brothers, and Theo Angelopoulos as major influences, and names "Il Maledetto Imbroglio" by Pietro Germi as a favorite film. He discusses the importance of genius loci in cinema, exemplified by the final scene of Antonioni's "L'Eclisse," where a nondescript intersection becomes a sacred space of non-encounter. De Paolis reflects on the loss of the sacred in art, contrasting ancient cave paintings and Greek statues—once seen as powerful entities—with today's commodified art. He expresses concern about AI replacing human creativity, predicting that future interviews will be conducted by artificial intelligence. He advises young filmmakers to fiercely defend their ideas, even against producers. The interview is part of the Futuro Antico series, which includes conversations with figures like Carlo Galli, Martino Gamper, and Fabio Pusterla.