Luca Capponi is an Italian-Ecuadorian filmmaker from a small village in the Bergamo province, Italy. Growing up in a bicultural environment, he developed an early curiosity about identity, migration, and the experiences of marginalized communities. This interest led him to pursue a Master’s degree in Multimedia Studies, where he began exploring the power of visual storytelling as a means to give voice to underrepresented narratives.
After completing his Master’s, Luca enrolled in the prestigious three-year program at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia (CSC), Italy’s National School of Cinema. At CSC, he honed his craft as a documentary filmmaker, focusing on stories of migration and social exclusion across European borders. His work often delves into the complexities of displacement, exploring the human cost of migration policies and the resilience of those navigating uncertain futures. Through intimate storytelling and observational filmmaking, he seeks to create cinematic experiences that challenge perceptions and foster deeper understanding.
During his final year at CSC, his short film Chronicles from Dusk, created in collaboration with Laura Poitras and Field of Vision, was selected for Critics’ Week at the 2018 Venice Biennale. Beyond his work in documentary filmmaking, Luca has collaborated with artists, journalists, and social activists to create visual narratives that amplify voices often overlooked by mainstream media. His approach is deeply immersive—he believes in spending time with his subjects, understanding their realities, and capturing their stories with authenticity and respect. Whether exploring the struggles of refugees, the resilience of homeless communities, or the intersection of art and activism, his work is rooted in a commitment to ethical storytelling.
Now based in Berkeley, California, Luca continues to develop his vision and passion for cinema. His recent projects have focused on themes of housing insecurity, aging, and the intersection of memory and identity. He is currently working on “”Like Heaven Without God,”” a documentary that follows the lives of unhoused individuals living in an RV community in Berkeley.
Luca’s work has been shaped by his own experiences of movement and adaptation. Having lived and worked across different cultural landscapes, he brings a transnational perspective to his storytelling, bridging European and American documentary traditions. His films blend observational techniques with poetic imagery, striving to create an emotional and intellectual impact on audiences.
As he continues his journey as a filmmaker, Luca remains dedicated to exploring the stories of those living on the margins, using cinema to foster dialogue, challenge stereotypes, and inspire change.
