Maura Delpero

• Born — 3 October 1975 • Birthplace — Bolzano, Italy • Occupation — Film director

Delpero was born in Bolzano, Italy. After studying literature at University of Bologna and a brief period at Sorbonne University, she studied film at the Professional Training Center of SICA in Buenos Aires.

Delpero's first two films, the documentaries Teachers (Signori Professori) and Nadea and Sveta (Nadea e Sveta), premiered at the Torino Film Festival in 2008 and 2012, respectively. For Nadea and Sveta, Delpero was nominated in the Best Documentary Feature category at the 58th David di Donatello awards ceremony. In 2019, Delpero's feature film debut Maternal (Hogar) premiered at the 72nd Locarno Film Festival, where it received a special mention in the Concorso Internazionale competition and was awarded the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. The film was inspired by Delpero's own experiences as a teacher in Argentine "hogars", homes for teenage mothers often administered by nuns. Delpero was awarded the 2020 Women in Motion Young Talent Award, presented by Kering and the Cannes Film Festival. The following year, Maternal earned Delpero a nomination for Best New Director at the 66th David di Donatello in 2021. In 2022, Delpero received the Coprocity Development award for her second feature film, the World War II drama The Mountain Bride. Retitled Vermiglio, the film debuted at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in 2024, where it won the Grand Jury Prize. The film also won the Gold Hugo for best film at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival, the award for best international screenplay at the 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival, and seven David di Donatello, including for best film, best director and best screenplay. Chosen as Italy's entry for the Oscars 2025, it has been shortlisted among the 15 films for the Best International Feature. It was also nominated for Best Film and Best Director at The European Film Awards and it was a nominee for Best Motion Picture-Non English language at the 2025 Golden Globes.

• Year — English title — Original title • 2008 — Teachers — Signori Professori • 2012 — Nadea and Sveta — Nadea e Sveta • 2019 — Maternal — Hogar • 2024 — Vermiglio