---
name: "Umberto Contarello"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/umberto-contarello"
roles: ["Writer","Screenwriter"]
born: "13 July 1958"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "writer"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-17T11:39:54.099099+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Umberto Contarello

Writer and screenwriter. Born 13 July 1958 in Padova.

## Details

- **Work:** Writer, Screenwriter
- **Born:** 13 July 1958, Padova
- **Active:** 2013–2016
- **Frequently works with:** [Paolo Sorrentino](https://film.one/person/paolo-sorrentino.md)
- **Elsewhere:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4003361, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0176197/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/126970

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The Great Beauty*](https://film.one/film/the-great-beauty.md) (83)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Umberto Contarello is an Italian screenwriter and writer. Born in Padua on 13 July 1958, he graduated in the philosophy of science from the University of Padua. He moved to Rome with longtime friends Carlo Mazzacurati and Enzo Monteleone, and their first major screenplay together was for *Marrakech Express* (1989), directed by Gabriele Salvatores.

Contarello has collaborated extensively with Paolo Sorrentino on *This Must Be the Place* (2011), *The Great Beauty* (2013), *Loro* (2018) and related projects, and with Bernardo Bertolucci on *Me and You* (2012). His other credits include work for directors such as Gianni Amelio and Michele Placido. Television writing includes episodes of *The Young Pope* (2016) and *The New Pope* (2020). He received a David di Donatello award for best screenplay for *This Must Be the Place*.

*Sources: imdb.com, it.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *The Great Beauty* (2013), Fi1m 83, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/the-great-beauty.md)

## Complete filmography (40)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *L'infinito* (2025), Umberto, Director, Screenplay
- *Casanova's Return* (2023), Screenplay
- *Parole. Operetta per voce e piano* (2021), Director
- *Security* (2021), Story
- *The New Pope* (2020), series, Writer
- *Volare* (2019), Screenplay
- *The Vice of Hope* (2018), Screenplay, Idea, Script, Story, Writer
- *Loro* (2018), Writer
- *Loro 2* (2018), Writer
- *Loro 1* (2018), Writer
- *That's Life* (2018), Thanks
- *The Young Pope* (2016), series, Writer
- *The Great Beauty* (2013), Screenplay — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/the-great-beauty.md)
- *Me & You* (2012), Screenplay
- *Missione di pace* (2011), Screenplay
- *Il segreto dell'acqua* (2011), series, Writer
- *This Must Be the Place* (2011), Writer
- *La passione* (2010), Screenplay, Story
- *A Matter of Heart* (2009), Novel
- *The Slow Game* (2009), Screenplay, Story
- *Il Divo* (2008), as Congressman
- *Don't Waste Your Time, Johnny!* (2007), Screenplay, Story
- *Rino Gaetano - Ma il cielo è sempre più blu* (2007), Writer
- *Rino Gaetano - Ma il cielo è sempre più blu* (2007), series, Writer
- *The Missing Star* (2006), Story, Screenplay
- *Inspector Coliandro* (2006), series, Writer
- *Wherever You Are* (2004), Writer
- *Light of My Eyes* (2001), Story, Screenplay
- *Roman Summer* (2000), Thanks
- *Holy Tongue* (2000), Story, Screenplay
- *Metronotte* (2000), Screenplay
- *Guests* (1998), Thanks
- *The Game Bag* (1997), Writer
- *Vesna Goes Fast* (1996), Screenplay, Story
- *Bits & Pieces* (1996), Acting
- *Bidoni* (1995), as Garrone
- *Il toro* (1994), Story, Screenplay
- *Caro diario* (1993), as Assistente medici cinesi
- *Marrakech Express* (1989), Story, Screenplay
- *Notte italiana* (1987), Assistant Director

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- European Film Award for Best Film 2013: European Film Award for Best Film (won), for *The Great Beauty*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2013: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (nominated), for *The Great Beauty*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/umberto-contarello