Alberto Grifi
Biography
Alberto Grifi (Rome, 1938–2007), a painter, director, cameraman and photographer, is a fundamental figure of Italian experimental and activist cinema. In the first half of the 1960s he worked on the production of documentaries, and in 1964, together with Gianfranco Baruchello, he made La verifica incerta, followed by many other experimental films. With the cult film Anna 1975 he was one of the first to experiment with the use of videotape in an independent film. In 1976 – together with a group of ‘video hoodlums’ – he produced documentaries rarely screened today on youth protests in Milan, Bologna and Rome. Throughout the 1980s he shot industrial documentaries in the United States, Latin America, Africa, Australia and Southeast Asia. Grifi has also produced many radio programmes, published his writings on penitentiaries, contributed to various film magazines and held seminars in many squats, and universities, becoming a reference for future militant filmmakers.
Known For & Full Filmography16 Titles
Movie - 2002, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
Alberto Grifi, an experimental filmmaker, becomes aware of the experiments conducted by Dr. Kanudo, who, following in the footsteps of T. Leary and A. Huxley, documents the effects of psychotropic substances on the human mind. In collaboration with engineer Norsen, Dr. Kanudo invents a machine capable of visualizing mental images. The scientist's goal is to document, in a mirrored manner, the mental experience under the influence of ketamine, a substance known for its hallucinogenic and dissociative effects. Dr. Kanudo agrees to have the experiment filmed. The filmmaker also takes on the task of finding two patients to take ketamine and attends a rave party, where he documents the use of the substance in such gatherings. Meanwhile, in the laboratory, everything is progressing well until an unexpected reaction from the second patient to the administration of the drug and a raid by the authorities threaten to derail the situation.
Movie - 1975, 2h 15m • as Self (uncredited)
A documentary ostensibly about Anna, a young drug addict taken off the streets by one of the filmmakers. Through her they attempt to explore the social issues from their hippie perspective, instead they create a revealing, uncomfortable self-portrait and inadvertently raise questions about documentary film-making.
Movie - 2024, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
From Paolo Brunatto's series "Scheggie Di Utopia".
Drama Series - 2025, 16 episodes • as Self - director
Fuori Orario airs for the first time the 13 hours of footage from which Alberto Grifi and Massimo Sarchielli made Anna, plus other video material filmed during the same period. Anna's 'off-screen footage' allows us to take an even closer look at the characters and events that are the protagonists of this unique film.
Movie - 2025, 2h 15m • as Self - director
After its premiere at the Berlinale Forum in February '75, Anna was also presented in Venice, the film was followed by a very well-participated debate, alongside Alberto Grifi there was Adriano Aprà, and among those present was Tatti Sanguineti, the author of a very articulate critical speech. The footage of this meeting is part of the 30 cassettes containing the video footage from which the film was edited, thanks to the work of Anna Maria Licciardello, the Cineteca Nazionale with the Fondazione Grifi and the La camera ottica laboratory in Gorizia.
Movie - 2007, 2h 15m • as Self
In the film we find some scrap of slow motion they see a Monica Vitti trying to cry, a meeting between Antonioni and Grifi, a film shot in the concentration camp of Auschwitz with a survivor who recounts those awful moments, a glimpse of Palestine today, Grifi's reflections on the prison.
Movie - 2006, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
7 April 2006 Alberto Grifi, a year before his death, is interviewed for the last time by Roberto Silvestri and canecapovolto. What emerges in the interview is the portrait of an underground filmmaker who was always intrigued by the dual aim of pursuing scientific and artistic research simultaneously, and whose cinema, influenced by Grotowski's method, was made by people whose objective was to understand how life works by interpreting roles that allow them to live experiences which were totally different from their own ones.
Movie - 2001, 2h 15m • as Mr. Riflesso
This film deals with the theme of the heritage left to the underground cinema by the historical avant-garde.
Movie - 1976, 2h 15m • as Himself
An outstanding performance featuring brilliant storytelling, high stakes drama, and unforgettable character arcs.
Movie - 2004, 2h 15m • as Sé stesso
An outstanding performance featuring brilliant storytelling, high stakes drama, and unforgettable character arcs.
Movie - 1997, 2h 15m • as Self
A film about Alfonso, who was the protagonist of the third episode of Paisà (the street urchin who steals the American soldier's shoes). A reflection on neorealism, filmed with Michele Schiavino and Maria Paola Fadda, third special Sony video prize at the Locarno Film Festival.
Movie - 2004, 2h 15m • as Sé stesso
An outstanding performance featuring brilliant storytelling, high stakes drama, and unforgettable character arcs.
Movie - 1993, 2h 15m • as Self
An outstanding performance featuring brilliant storytelling, high stakes drama, and unforgettable character arcs.
Movie - 1998, 2h 15m • as Sé stesso
An outstanding performance featuring brilliant storytelling, high stakes drama, and unforgettable character arcs.
Movie - 1994, 2h 15m • as Sé stesso
An outstanding performance featuring brilliant storytelling, high stakes drama, and unforgettable character arcs.
Movie - 1993, 2h 15m • as Self
An outstanding performance featuring brilliant storytelling, high stakes drama, and unforgettable character arcs.