Simona Calo
Oscar® qualifying Screenwriter & Director
I turn your ideas into
award-winning films
- Oscar® qualifying 2025
- Semi-finalist at the 2018 Golden Plume in Cannes for The Dark Side of the Law
- Over 20 nominations and 15 wins at international film festivals
- Projects distributed in cinemas, Prime Video, and Apple TV in over 74 countries
Writing
I offer a range of writing services, including content for podcasts, web and social media, screenplays, eBooks and feedback on your scripts. Whether you need compelling scripts, engaging digital content, or storytelling for any platform, I can help bring your ideas to life with impactful, tailored solutions.
Directing
I provide directing services for corporate videos, commercials, documentaries, and films. From concept to final cut, I bring stories to life with a creative vision that engages audiences and aligns with your goals.
Video Editing
I offer video editing services for interviews, corporate videos, showreels, short films, and more. With attention to detail and a focus on storytelling, I ensure a polished final product that captures the essence of your project and resonates with your audience.
About Me
Hi there! I’m Simona Calo, an Italian screenwriter and director with a passion for storytelling and the transformative power of film. Though born in Italy, I’ve fulfilled my childhood dream of living in the English countryside, writing and creating from the beautiful county of Kent.
Let me share a bit about my journey and the projects that mean the most to me…
My latest work is The Good Dads, a 2025 Oscar-qualifying animated short. It’s a deeply emotional drama about a single mother’s struggle to find a good father figure for her autistic son after being abandoned by her husband.
Coming soon is Eyes Everywhere, a docudrama featuring Christopher Lambert, Fortunato Cerlino, and Francesca Inaudi. This project explores Society 5.0, where technology helps place humanity back at the centre.
CONNECTED: THE NEW POST-HUMAN SPECIES (available on Prime Video and Apple TV), delves into the fascinating and sometimes mysterious world of artificial intelligence.
In 2022, I directed the short film DAY 4, which tackles the sensitive issue of a mother’s relationship with her son, conceived through rape.
Previously, my documentary Vicolo degli onesti (Honest Men’s Alley) shed light on medical malpractice in Italy, including perspectives from TV (Piero Chiambretti), politics (Antonello Soro), and the legal system (Gherardo Colombo).
During the pandemic, I worked on The New Normal, a unique production shot entirely during lockdown. Despite the actors being in different countries, the project showed the incredible power of technology and adaptability in filmmaking.
In 2019, I wrote and directed Hasty Decisions, a film addressing bullying and youth violence.
Earlier in my career, my drama/thriller The Dark Side of the Law made it to the semi-finals at the 2018 Golden Plume competition in Cannes.
In 2017, Ovunque ma non qui (Anywhere but here), focusing on violence against women.
My journey began with E poi la fine (And Then the End Shall Be), a documentary about the Italian painter Dario Chiericallo.
All of these works have been recognized at international film festivals. But for me, it’s about connecting with people, telling stories that matter, and making films that inspire and provoke thought.
I’m currently working on a feature film, A Glass Door, a drama about a woman haunted by trauma who navigates strained relationships with her parents and seeks a fresh start, hoping to heal while confronting the past that refuses to fade.
Films
The Good Dads
A single mother of an autistic child, abandoned by her husband, embarks on a quest to find a good father for her son, facing rejection and disappointment until a chance encounter at a café renews her hope.
Connected: The New Post-Human Species
A docudrama investigating Artificial Intelligence’s technological benefits for the Human species and the risks of worsening social inequalities.
DAY 4
Instead of being open with her son about a traumatic event from her past, a woman decides to repress the details, which ultimately damages their relationship.
Vicolo degli Onesti
Testimonies from the world of TV (Piero Chiambretti), justice (Gherardo Colombo) and politics (Antonello Soro). All in support of the struggle that a doctor, Domenico De Felice, has fought to improve Italian health care.
The New Normal
This movie was shot during the lockdown. The actors, based in different countries, never met or talked to each other.
Hasty Decisions
When a vulnerable teenager is bullied by two jocks, he decides to seek revenge. However, through an introspective journey, he realizes that perhaps he can rise above it and move on.
Ovunque ma non qui
Unexpected twists and open ending for this short film denouncing violence against women.
E poi la Fine
The documentary shows the Master, Chiericallo in his everyday life. The damned painter, so named for his life cursed and unregulated, reveals through his diary, the secrets of his genius.
Podcasts
Inevitable
“INEVITABLE” tells the story of the encounter between humanity and technology, focusing on the advantages and limitations of digital innovation. This podcast delves into the role of technology in daily life, in transforming work, and in social interactions, examining biase and ethical implications. A critical journey through the changes shaping an inevitable future.
Caffe' Macchiato
SEASONS 2 & 3
The podcast that brings together extraordinary and everyday business experiences. Stories of those who dared to chase a dream, a value, or a passion. Because it’s from each of our stories that the strength of a great company is born..
Fit4BIP
In a world plagued by pollution, an oppressive government, and rampant crime, one tower holds the key to hope. Amy is granted the rare opportunity to enter, where a mysterious game awaits.
Amidst uncertainty, she joins forces with Max, unraveling challenges. Along this journey, secrets come to light. Is she safe? Can she still change her life?
Super Powers
We’re used to hearing stories of superheroes who fly, run at the speed of light, wield magical weapons, or possess superhuman strength. And then there’s us, who, without any of these powers, face our daily challenges in our organizations and in our lives. We do it despite not knowing how to fly, and maybe that’s exactly why we’ve developed other extraordinary superpowers.