paolo rotondo

Paolo Rotondo was born in Napoli, Italy moving to New Zealand when he was ten years old.

Paolo is an accomplished artist working in the Film, Theatre and Television industries as an Actor, Writer, Director and Producer for over twenty years.

As an actor Paolo is probably best known for his work on "Shortland Street" New Zealand's longest running serial drama. Lead roles in feature films include the much loved Kiwi classic "Stickmen" and he made his debut as the serial killer 'Simon Cartwright' in the bold horror film "The Ugly' for which he won a 'Best actor award' at the Rome Festival. Other television series Paolo has acted in include, 'Xena Warrior Princess', ' When We Go To War', 'Riverworld', 'Young Hercules', 'Street Legal', 'Jackson's Wharf', 'The Insider's Guide to Love', 'Cancerman', 'Making of the Mob' and 'Bombshell'. 

The Short films Paolo wrote and directed; 'The Freezer' and 'Dead Letters' were both supported by the New Zealand Film Commission, have received International Film Awards as well as being studied in New Zealand High schools. His first feature film that he wrote and directed has also won many Awards in New Zealand and Internationally.

Best Feature Film - Anchorage International Film Festival

Best Musical Score - Silver Global Music Awards

Best Editing - New Zealand Film Awards

Best Cinematography - Las Cruces International Film Festival

Official Selection: Texas International Film Festival / All Lights India International Film Festival / Boston International Film Festival / NZ International Film Festival

As a Playwright Paolo has penned major Theatre shows including the highly successful 'Little Che' inspired by the 'Motorcycle Diaries' and 'Strange Resting Places' co-written with Rob Mokaraka and based on family stories of the Maori Battalion in Italy in WW2. The multi award-winning 'Strange Resting Places' has received five star reviews in New Zealand and Internationally and has been performed in New Zealand and overseas for over nine years as well as being published and studied in schools worldwide. In 2016 he received a Michael King Fellowship and during that time penned his latest play 'Kororareka: The Ballad of Maggie Flynn' which premiered to sold out audiences in May/June/July 2017 and is undertaking a major national and international tour in 2018. This play is also the basis for a long-form TV Series which is currently in development.  Paolo has also recently received Creative New Zealand funding to begin a more comedic/farce project about the internees on Somes Island.

As a TV Commercial and Content Director Paolo is represented by Flying Fish New Zealand.

Under the auspices of

the Embassy of italy - wellington

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