Laura Neri

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Director Laura Neri at work

Laura Neri (Greek: Λάουρα Νέρι) is a director of Greek and Italian origins. Born in Brussels, Belgium, she graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles with an MFA in Film Production. Laura Neri was born of a Greek mother and an Italian father. She received her BA with Honors in Film Analysis and Screenwriting at the Free University of Brussels, where writer/director Luc dardenne was her mentor. She then received an MFA in Film Production at the University of Southern California.

Her thesis film is a 'dramedy' called A Kiss on the Nose, which has won several awards and has been screened worldwide. It describes a difficult father-daughter relationship, told from the daughter's quirky point-of-view. In 2005 the film won the "Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award – Student Dramatic Short" at the Heartland Film Festival as well as the inaugural VISION AWARD, which recognizes an emerging filmmaker who shows vision in filmmaking. The film also won "Best Short" at the 2005 Danville International Children's Film festival and was one of the 10 winners of the Flickering Image Film Festival 2006.

The film also won Best Drama at the 2006 FAIF International Film Festival, as well as garnering nominations for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Short, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor. It also won a Gold Remi Award at WorldFest Houston 2007, second place for Best Short at the 2006 Lake Arrowhead Film Festival, second place for Best Screenplay and third place for Best Actress at the 2005 Action on Film Festival, Honorable Mentions at the Smogdance and Rochester Festivals, a Gold Medal for Excellency at the 2007 Park City Film Music Festival, was nominated for Best of the Fest at the 2006 Great Lakes Film Festival and Best Short at the B-Movie film festival and received the A.S.C. Charles B. Lang Heritage Award for Outstanding Cinematography (Honorable Mention).

Overall, the film has screened at more than 50 festivals and has been purchased by two television channels as well as United Airlines.