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Sydney Sibilia (Italian pronunciation: [ˈsidni siˈbiːlja]; born 19 November 1981) is an Italian filmmaker. He is the recipient of various accolades, including two Nastri d'argento and two Globi d'oro.

He rose to prominence with his debut feature, I Can Quit Whenever I Want (2014), which achieved critical and commercial success, being nominated for three David di Donatello, two Ciak d'oro, two Globo d'oro, and leading to two sequels. After co-founding italian production company Groenlandia, Sibilia has continued to explore themes of ambition and rebellion in films such as the Netflix original Rose Island (2020), which earned him the Globo d'oro, and Mixed by Erry (2023), which has been nominated for the David di Donatello and the Globo d'oro, and won the Nastro d'argento. In addition to film, Sibilia has directed the Sky series Hanno ucciso l'Uomo Ragno (2024), which was well-received in Italy.

Career

Sydney Sibilia, originally from Salerno, began his career directing short films, notably Oggi gira così (2010), written with Valerio Attanasio and produced by Ascent Film. The short won several awards, including the SIAE award for Best Screenplay.

After relocating to Rome in 2007, he directed commercials for major campaigns, including Wind and Fox Crime, while simultaneously developing his debut feature film, I Can Quit Whenever I Want (Smetto quando voglio). Released in February 2014, the film—produced by Fandango, Ascent Film, and Rai Cinema—was a critical and commercial success, earning twelve David di Donatello nominations and awards like the Nastro d'argento for Best Producer and the Ciak d'oro for Sibilia as Revelation of the Year.

The film’s success led to two sequels: I Can Quit Whenever I Want: Masterclass (2017) and I Can Quit Whenever I Want: Ad Honorem (2017), both produced by Groenlandia, the production company Sibilia co-founded with Matteo Rovere. These projects solidified Sibilia’s reputation as a filmmaker blending humor and social commentary.

In 2020, Sibilia directed Rose Island, a Netflix original film based on the true story of the Republic of Rose Island. The movie was acclaimed for its unique storytelling and themes of rebellion and freedom.

Sibilia’s subsequent project, Mixed by Erry, released in 2024, chronicles the rise and fall of Enrico Frattasio, a pivotal figure in the Italian music piracy scene of the 1990s. Produced by Groenlandia, the film reflects Sibilia's ongoing interest in stories of ambition and unconventional success.

Personal life

Since 2019, Sydney Sibilia has been in a relationship with actress Greta Scarano. The couple married in 2021.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Ciak d'oro

David di Donatello

Globo d'oro

Nastro d'argento

References

1. "Biography". Screenweek (in Italian). Retrieved 27 October 2020.
2. "Sibilia, Sydney". Treccani Encyclopedia (in Italian). Retrieved 27 October 2020.
3. "883, la serie tv Hanno Ucciso L'Uomo Ragno è finita ma non è finita: arriva la seconda stagione?". Variety. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
4. "17:09 – La Cittadella del Corto: i premi". Cinecittà News. Cinecittà S.p.A. May 31, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
5. Tiziana Morganti (January 30, 2014). "Smetto quando voglio: una generazione di ricercati da 110 e lode". Movieplayer.it. NetAddiction S.r.l. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
6. Francesco Gallo (January 26, 2017). "Smetto quando voglio diventa action comedy". ANSA.it. ANSA. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
7. Cecilia Uzzo (October 1, 2019). ""L'incredibile storia dell'Isola delle Rose" è il nuovo film italiano di Netflix". TV Sorrisi e Canzoni. Mondadori Media S.p.A. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
8. Federica Grieco. "Mixed by Erry: l'ascesa e la caduta del re delle musicassette pirata a Napoli in un film". Fanpage.it.
9. Federico Boni (4 March 2019). ""Chi preferisci?" with Greta Scarano". RaiPlay. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
10. Federico Boni (5 October 2021). Citynews (ed.). "Greta Scarano marries director Sydney Sibilia". Today.

External links

• Sydney Sibilia at IMDb 
• "Sibilia, Sydney". Treccani Encyclopedia.

• 1981 births
• Living people
• People from Salerno
• Italian film directors
• Italian screenwriters
• Italian film producers