Company
Thespian Films Ltd
Francesco Gabriele is an award-winning British-Italian film director and producer based in London. He studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles before completing an MA in Filmmaking from the London Film School.
In 2014, he founded Thespian Films Ltd, a London-based production company established to highlight the creative role of actors on set. Over the past decade, his films have screened at Oscar- and BAFTA-qualifying festivals worldwide and secured international distribution. Among them, his short film 'Italian Miracle' was nominated for Best Comedy and Best International Short at the Oscar and BAFTA Qualifying LA Shorts Fest, and was awarded the Jury Award for Best Short at the Stony Brook Film Festival in New York.
Francesco’s debut feature, the dramedy 'Blue Hollywood', filmed in Los Angeles, premiered at RIFFA in Canada, where it won Best Feature, and had its UK premiere at the BT Tower in London as the Closing Night Film of the BAFTA-qualifying British Urban Film Festival. The film went on to screen internationally across Europe, North America, and Asia, receiving numerous accolades and critical recognition.
In recent years, Francesco has expanded his work into horror and dark comedy, directing award-winning features including 'The Bad Nun 3' and 'Behave'. His creative approach blends performance-centred storytelling with a cinematic style that balances compelling visual and emotional authenticity.
Francesco is a member of Directors UK and the Head of Film, TV and Audio at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
  • Director (9 Credits)
    Hunger Beneath the Moonlight2026
    Short
    Bad Nun 32023
    Feature
    Behave2023
    Feature
    Cul-de-sac2023
    Short
    Merry XXXMas2023
    Feature
    For Sale2020
    Short
    Blue Hollywood2017
    Feature
    Italian Miracle2015
    Short
    The Bicycle2014
    Short, Student
  • Producer (5 Credits)
    Hunger Beneath the Moonlight2026
    Short
    Behave2023
    Feature
    Cul-de-sac2023
    Short
    For Sale2020
    Short
    Italian Miracle2015
    Short
  • Acting (2 Credits)
    Blue Hollywood2017
    Feature
    Italian Miracle2015
    Short
  • Writer (2 Credits)
    Blue Hollywood2017
    Feature
    Italian Miracle2015
    Short
Méliès d’Argent Competition
Hunger Beneath the Moonlight
Haapsalu Horror & Fantasy Film Festival
Haapsalu
2026
Official Selection
Cul-de-sac
Paris in the Dark Film Festival
Paris
2024
Official Selection
Cul-de-sac
Vespertilio Awards
Rome
2024
Official Selection
Cul-de-sac
Calgari Horror Con
Calgari
2024
Official Selection
Cul-de-sac
Santecchia Horror Festival
Gioi
2024
Official Selection
Cul-de-sac
Frostbiter Horror Film Festival
Akranes
2024
Official Selection
Cul-de-sac
Festival du Fantastique de Béziers
Béziers
2024
Official Selection
Cul-de-sac
Etna Comics
Catania
2024
Official Selection
Behave
Romford Horror Film Festival
London
2024
Official Selection
Bad Nun 3
Toronto Indie Horror Fest
Toronto
2024
Official Selection
Behave
Romford Horror Film Festival
Romford
2024
Official Selection
Behave
Horror en Banfield Film Festival
Banfield
2024
Honorable Mention
Merry XXXMas
LA Undeground Film Forum
Los Angeles
2024
Official Selection
Merry XXXMas
Peephole Film Fest
Guadalajara
2024
Official Selection
Merry XXXMas
Venus International Erotic Film Festival
Valencia
2024
Best Short Film Winner
Cul-de-sac
Abruzzo Horror Film Festival
L'Aquila
2023
Best Horror Short Winner
Cul-de-sac
Performance Short Film Competition
London
2023
Official Selection
Behave
Ostia Film Festival
Ostia
2023
Best Sound Design Award
Behave
Skiptown Playhouse Film Festival
Los Angeles
2023
Official Selection
Behave
Rieti Film Festival
Rieti
2023
Official Selection
For Sale
Picentia Short Film Festival
Picentia
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Horrorthon Film Festival
Sudbury
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Dead Northern Horror Festival
Harrogate
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Siding Festival of Film
Creston
2021
Special Mention Award
For Sale
Visioni Notturne
Florence
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival - BIFAN
Bucheon
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Beside the Seaside
Southport
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Festival del Cinema di Cefalù
Cefalù
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
River Film Festival
Padua
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Fantaspoa Film Festival
Porto Alegre
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Vision Film Festival
Rome
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Romford Horror Film Festival
London
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
H.P. Lovercraft Film Festival
Portland
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Mile High Horror Film Festival
Boulder
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Atlanta Horror Film Festival
Atlanta
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
HorrorFest International
St. George
2021
Best Actor Award - Randall Paul
For Sale
Wreak Havoc Horror Film Festival
Greensboro
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Santiago Horror Film Festival
Santiago
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
African International Horror Film Festival
Lagos
2021
Monument Award and Best Kill Award
For Sale
Carnival of Darkness
Chocowinity
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Sin City Horror Fest
Las Vegas
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Garofano Rosso Film Festival
Forme
2021
Best Suspense Short Award
For Sale
Skiptown Playhouse Film Festival
Los Angeles
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Portobello Film Festival
London
2021
Best Director Award
For Sale
IHORRORdb Film Festival
Lecce
2021
Official Selection
For Sale
Ramaskrik Film Festival
Oppdal Kulturhus
2020
Official Selection
For Sale
Hex After Dark Film Festival
Calgary
2020
Official Selection
For Sale
East Van - The Haunted Saloon
Vancouver
2020
Official Selection
For Sale
The Dark Hedges International Horror Film Festival
Belfast
2020
Official Selection
For Sale
Anatomy Crime - Horror International Film Festival
Athens
2020
Official Selection
For Sale
Flaiano Awards - Scrittura & Immagine
Pescara
2020
Official Selection
For Sale
Vindhya Internation Film Festival
Sidhi
2020
Official Selection
For Sale
Chambal Film Festival
Kota
2020
Official Selection
For Sale
Capri Hollywood Film Festival
Capri
2020
Diamond Award
Blue Hollywood
California Film Awards - Official Competition
San Diego
2018
Audience Award, 2nd Place
Blue Hollywood
Four Seasons Film Festival - Official Competition
London
2018
Nom. Best Feature Film
Blue Hollywood
Myrtle Beach International Film Festival - Official Competition
Myrtle Beach
2018
Director Revelation Award
Blue Hollywood
Catania International Film Festival - Official Competition
Catania
2018
Nom. Best Feature Film
Blue Hollywood
Coronado Island Film Festival - Official Competition
Coronado Island
2017
Nom. Best Feature Film
Blue Hollywood
Atlantic City Cinefest - Official Competition
Atlantic City
2017
Nom. Best Feature
Blue Hollywood
Salento International Film Festival - Official Competition
Tricase
2017
Best International Feature Award
Blue Hollywood
Regina International Film Festival & Awards - Official Competition
Regina
2017
Nom. Best Male Emerging Talent, Best Female Emerging Talent
Blue Hollywood
British Urban Film Festival - Official Competition
London
2017
Best Screenwriter Award
Italian Miracle
The Monthly Film Festival - Official Selection
Glasgow
2017
Premio Fellini Winner
Italian Miracle
Corto Fiction Chianciano Terme - Official Selection
Chianciano Terme
2017
Jury Award - Best Short
Italian Miracle
Stony Brooke Film Festival - Jury Award Winner
New York
2016
2nd Award - Post Graduate Short Film Category
The Bicycle
Screen Stockport Film Festival - Official Competition
Stockport, UK
2015
College
London Film School
Film Directing
20132016
College
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Acting
20102012
Company
Thespian Films Ltd
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