Stefan Archetti
Stefan Archetti was born in London to Italian parents. After working as an independent fashion designer for 12 years, he abandoned the clothing trade to pursue a childhood ambition of becoming a filmmaker and enrolled at the London Film School.
He graduated in 2002 with the short 35mm thriller DEMONIAC, photographed by John Ward—Steadicam operator for A-list directors including Stanley Kubrick, Roman Polanski and Luc Besson, and a talented DoP in his own right. It stars London east end gangster and bestselling author Dave Courtney, and was screened on the international film festival circuit. Stefan has since gone on to produce, direct and edit various short films and a feature length documentary, A TALE OF TWO HIPPIES, which was selected as the opening film of the Morbegno Film Festival in Italy in September 2007.
He is currently in the throes of post-production on his debut feature film, IL FUNGO SIRENA, an independent low-budget drama that was shot last summer in Italy on HDV. The film was cast with a group of non-professional actors who improvised the entire project. He is also in the middle of developing two documentaries. Both are lifestyle reflections over protracted periods in time. The first follows a chronically sick middle-aged British lady’s experiences following her diagnosis five years ago and the second charts the construction of a mesmerising Gaudi-esque style house which is being built by hand in a secret Spanish location by a fascinating Hungarian artist.
What training have you received?
I graduated from The London Film School in 2002 with a Diploma in the Art and Technique of Filmmaking.
Does your budget limit what you can explore in your films?
Not so far, although I do have various projects which I will not be able to develop without the adequate funding.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given as a low-budget filmmaker?
That to make your first movie all you need is an idea, a decent camera, a DoP and a sound person.
Most significant moment in your career so far?
Making my debut feature film IL FUNGO SIRENA last summer in a tiny village called Gerola in the Italian Alps and thus fulfilling a dream that’s been gestating in my head since sojourning in the very same village in my adolescence.
You’ll die happy when…
I have made 10 feature films. ■
