Carlo Lizzani (Rome, April 3, 1922 – Rome, October 5, 2013) was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and film critic, a multifaceted and central figure of post-World War II Italian cinema. He began his career as a critic and theorist of Neorealism, collaborating on screenplays for directors such as Roberto Rossellini and Giuseppe De Santis. His directorial debut, *Achtung! Banditi!* (1951), immediately demonstrated a strong civic commitment and a focus on Italian history, themes that would characterize his entire body of work. His filmography spans various genres, from historical drama (*Il processo di Verona*, 1963) and films about the Resistance, to the *poliziottesco* crime genre (*Banditi a Milano*, 1968) and literary adaptations (*Fontamara*, 1980). Among his most celebrated works is *Cronache di poveri amanti* (1954), which earned him the International Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Throughout his long career, he received numerous awards, including two David di Donatello for lifetime achievement and several Nastri d'Argento. From 1979 to 1982, he also served as the director of the Venice Film Festival.