Filmaker
He conceived of and directed the montage film Hollywood on Tiber, which had its world premiere in the Controcampo Italiano section of the 66th Venice International Film Festival: it was produced by Cinecittà Luce together with Studio Universal and was nominated for the 2010 David di Donatello in the “Best Documentary” category and for the Nastro d’Argento in the “Best Documentary on the cinema” category.
Spagnoli directed in 2011 Hollywood Invasion entirely made of NBCUniversal footage on American productions in Europe from mid Fifties to mid Seventies. The documentary had its world premiere at 68 Venice Film Festival as Special Event in Controcampo Italiano section and it has been nominated at Focal International Awards 2012 in the category Best use of footage in a Arts Production.
Giovanna Cau – Diversamente Giovane, a documentary on the life of Giovanna Cau, the legendary lawyer and agent of Marcello Mastroianni, Federico Fellini and many other leading figures of Italian cinema in the golden age, whom Spagnoli also produced had its world premiere at Rome Film Festival 2011 as Special Event in the section called Extra. Giovanna Cau, because of this film, was honoured by italian Golden Globe and Silver Ribbon Award, while Spagnoli won a Special Prize assigned by Italian Journalist Association.
In 2012, his documentary Giuliano Montaldo – Quattro Volte Vent’Anni (Four times twenty years) was presented at Rome International Film Festival. it won a Special Mention assigned by a Special Jury from Rome Libraries’ System and a Special Silver Ribbon for ‘Best Actor’. It has also been nominated for Best Long Documentary of International “Gold Panda” Awards for Documentary of 2013 (12th) Sichuan TV Festival.
In 2013 ‘Great Women: Anna Magnani in Hollywood’ produced by NBC Global Network premiered at Venice Film Festival in the Venice Classics selection.
In 2014 he wrote and directed ‘Walt Disney and Italy – A Love Story’ produced by the Walt Disney Company in association with Kobalt Entertainment. The documentary featuring footage from Walt Disney’s travels to Italy as well as rare interviews with Federico Fellini and Umberto Eco, was distributed in Theaters as Special Event as part of marketing campaign for ‘Saving Mr.Banks’ launch.
In 2014 ‘Great Women: Sophia on Loren’ produced by NBC Global Network was selected at Venice Film Festival in the Venice Classics selection.
The ninth edition of Rome Film Festival hosted the world premiere of his doc “Enrico Lucherini – Some of my lies are true” on the first Italian press agent who worked as publicist for movies such as La Dolce Vita and who has been the personal pr for Sophia Loren.
For this three doc, Spagnoli was awarded a Special Silver Ribbon, the Italian Prize that can be compared to Golden Globe for its importance and prestige.
Enrico Lucherini – Ne ho fatte di tutti i colori has been nominated to Italian Academy Award “David di Donatello” in the Category: Best documentary.
In 2014 – 2015 he wrote and directed also two short documentary projects: ‘Great Women: Mina’, ‘Great Women: Matilde Serao’ and a two Tv Special for Studio Universal on ‘Anne Bancroft’ and on ‘Woody Allen’ told by Italian Director Carlo Verdone.
In 2016 he directed a series of commercials titled #IoFaccioFilm promoted by MPA – Anica – Univideo – Fapav to promote intellectual property protection and to nurture and inspire creativity among young generations.
In 2017, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Cinecittà Studios, Spagnoli directed Cinecittà Babylon – Sex, Drugs and Black Shirts produced by Istituto Luce – Cinecittà.
To celebrate the third installment of Disney – Pixar Cars franchise, he also wrote and directer his second feature documentary produced by Walt Disney Company: Roaring Engines.
Roma Cinema Fest 2017 premiere two Spagnoli’s works: documentary The Italian Jobs – Paramount Pictures and Italy produced by Paramount Channel and the Short Sweetheart starring Marco Giallini and Violante Placido.
The Italian Jobs has been nominated as Best Documentary for Italian Academy Awards (David di Donatello) and as Best Documentary on Film (Silver Ribbon). Spagnoli is the first Italian director who directed a 360 VR Long feature: 7 Miracles VR produced by co-director Rodrigo Cerqueira, Enzo Sisti and Joel Breton for Vive Studios. The Film premiered and won VR Film of the Festival Award at Raindance Festival in London on October 6, 2018. It has been distributed in 2019 on all VR platforms.
In January 2019, the most important Italian Tv channel Raiuno broadcasted Children of Destiny, a historic docudrama based on Spagnoli’s story and screenplay, co-directed with Francesco Micciché about the Italian Racial laws against the Jews. 2.969.000 people watched it reaching 12.4 share.
Writer
In 2016 Seven Kings, the TV pilot he co-wrote with German screenwriter Michael Esser won 2nd place as Best Screenplay at IFS – Independent Film Showcase in Los Angeles.
Professor
In 2015 Spagnoli taught Biopic & biographic storytelling: mediatic exploration of individuality in the imaginary collective at IULM University in Milan.
In 2016 he started teaching Documentary: writing the reality at the Master Writing School for Cinema & Television, Creative Center Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli Rome (LUISS).