Dario Di Mella is an Italian cinematographer and camera operator based in Bari, working professionally since 2006. His career includes more than two hundred productions across feature films, television series, documentaries, short films and advertising, developed within both Italian and international production environments. His work combines lighting, visual storytelling and a direct understanding of camera movement.

His professional journey began in television production and later developed into cinema, while his work on set has been complemented by direct experience in production and executive services for Italian and international projects. This broader knowledge of the filmmaking process allows him to balance visual research, organisation and the practical requirements of each production.

His most significant international credits include Abel Ferrara’s Padre Pio, on which he worked as camera operator for cinematographer Alessandro Abate, and Enrico Maria Artale’s French series Un prophète, where he served as both camera operator and split-unit cinematographer alongside Ferran Paredes Rubio. He also photographed a segment of Scott Weintrob’s American action thriller Paradox Effect, starring Harvey Keitel and Olga Kurylenko, working in visual continuity with cinematographer Tobia Sempi.

His camera operating credits also include Stéphane Freiss’ Where Life Begins, alongside cinematographer Michele Paradisi, and Pietro Malegori’s Shukran, working for cinematographer Tommaso Fiorilli. For Chris Gero’s international music documentary The Sound of Us, he was responsible for the cinematography and camera work of the Italian section. His international experience also includes the Nickelodeon and Rainbow series Club 57 and the Brazilian feature film Detetives do Prédio Azul 2.

The relationship between lighting and camera movement lies at the centre of his approach. Even when leading the cinematography, Di Mella feels an almost symbiotic need to operate the camera himself, seeing movement as an integral part of the visual construction. When operating for another cinematographer, this dual experience allows him to understand the visual language, narrative intentions and relationship with the director, placing his own sensitivity at the service of a shared vision.

As a cinematographer, he has developed an extensive and diverse body of work across feature films, documentaries, short films and television projects. Representative titles from a much broader filmography include Poveri noi, Un’altra me, Il meglio di te, I nostri ieri and Alessandro Piva’s documentary Fratelli di Culla. Throughout his career, he has shared the set with Italian and international performers including Alessandro Borghi, Roberto Herlitzka, Riccardo Scamarcio, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Shia LaBeouf, Harvey Keitel and Olga Kurylenko.

Alongside his film work, he has developed extensive experience in commercials and branded content, contributing to campaigns for Sammontana, Adidas, Natuzzi, Fiat Professional, Samsung and Sky. In this field, he has worked with directors including Max and Joseph Weiland, Maki Gherzi, Pippo Mezzapesa, Alessandro Piva, Luca Medici and Enrico Poli, moving between emotional storytelling and product-focused communication.

His cinematography has received awards at Italian and international festivals. Since 2013, he has combined his work on set with teaching at film schools, universities and Fine Arts Academies. He is also the author of Da zero al set. La luce, il linguaggio e gli strumenti del direttore della fotografia, published by Ardesia, which brings together a working method developed through professional practice, teaching and collaboration across film departments.

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PERSONAL AWARDS:

- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Big Noise” by Andrea Antonio Vico at New Jersey Film Awards (USA, 2023)

- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Tutù" by Lorenzo Tiberia at Cultural Classic 2022 CineCi’ (Naples, 2022)

- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Sassiwood" by Antonio Andrisani and Vito Cea at the COLIFFE Coliseum International Film Festival (Rome, 2021)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Il Naufragar me dolce in questo mare" by Maria Bulzacchelli at VIFF Varese International film Fest (Varese, 2019)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Il Naufragar me dolce in questo mare" by Maria Bulzacchelli at 4th Il Corto on the beach Film Fest (Taggia, 2019)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Esseri di stelle" by Adriano Giotti at Love your shorts Film Fest (Orlando_Florida, 2018)
- SPECIAL MENTION BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY for "Salifornia" by Andrea Beluto at Sarno Film Fest (Italy, 2016)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Nuvola" by Giulio Mastromauro at the Vaughan Film Fest (Canada, 2016)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Silenzioso Canto" by Luigi Iorio at the 12 Months Film Fest (November edition, 2015)

- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Nuvola" by Giulio Mastromauro at the 5th Retro Film Fest (Perugia, 2015)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Nuvola" by Giulio Mastromauro at the 9th Shortini International Fest (Augusta, 2015)

- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Nuvola" by Giulio Mastromauro at the 1st Formia Film Fest (Latina, 2015)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Niente" by Alessandro Porzio at the 17th Inventa un Film di Lenola (Frosinone, 2014)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Niente" by Alessandro Porzio 19th Videocorto di Nettuno Fest (Rome, 2014)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Carlo e Clara" by Giulio Mastromauro at the 10th Jalari in short (Barcellona Pozzo di Go,2013).
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Carlo e Clara" by Giulio Mastromauro at the 2th Gioiosa short (Gioiosa Marea, 2013).
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Genesi" by Donatella Altieri at the Corto e Cultura of Manfredonia Fest (Foggia, 2013)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Tramonto" by Roberto Urbani at the  Internacional de Cortometrajes Vagón Fest (Mexico, 2012).
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Smile" by Matteo Pianezzi at the 6th Villanova in short Film Fest (Ravenna, 2012).
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Abbiamo tutta la notte" by Adriano Giotti at the first edition of the national competition "48 hours Fest"(Rome, 2012).
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for "Amor taciuto" by Giulio Mastromauro at the 11th edition of Immagine Scuola e Cinema Giovani in Leinì (Turin, 2011).
- SPECIAL MENTION of the Short Jury Art Fest 2007, for the work carried out on the short films produced by the Accademia del cinema ragazzi-Enziteto Bari in competition as Director, Cinematographer, Editor and Camera Operator in relation to the quality and the proven versatility (Bari, 2007)

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