Virgilio Villoresi: The Artisan Filmmaker and His Stop-Motion Fantasies

Virgilio Villoresi (Fiesole, 1979) is an Italian filmmaker and stop-motion animator who blends dance, music, and kinetic sculpture into his work. He began his cinematic journey in 2005 with the short film 'Frigidaire,' produced in stop motion and collage. His practice is deeply influenced by Eastern European animation, particularly the works of Jan Lenica, Daniel Szczechura, and Walerian Borowczyk, which he discovered during his university years at DAMS. Villoresi describes himself as an 'artisan of cinema,' emphasizing hands-on techniques and minimal post-production. His mother, a professional classical dancer, influenced his approach to fluid movement in animation. He has collaborated with major fashion and design brands, including Bulgari, and maintains a Wunderkammer filled with Victorian curiosities and Lenci dolls. Villoresi is currently developing a feature-length adaptation of Dino Buzzati's graphic novel 'Poema a Fumetti,' which will blend live action with stop motion, inspired by Karel Zeman and Georges Méliès. The interview was conducted by Ginevra Barbetti and published on Artribune.