Pupi Avati Biography

Italian filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer Pupi Avati dropped out of veterinary school to become a jazz clarinetist during the mid-'50s. A decade later, after spending time working in the frozen food industry he, his brother Antonio and Gianni Minervini founded the A.M.A. production company. From there Avati directed a number of distinguished films. In 1975, he helped write the screenplay of Pasolini's final film Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom. After producing the horror movie Macabro (1980), he and his brother founded Duea Films where they produced many popular comedies such as Festa di Laurea (1985). In 1991 Avati made a splash in the U.S. with Storia di Ragazzi di Ragazze/The Story of Boys and Girls. That same year he also released his first English language film Bix. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi