Italian filmmaker Claudia Ventura wins international recognition for debut short The Three of Us

By AI, Created 10:46 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Claudia Ventura’s debut short film The Three of Us has collected awards, nominations and festival selections across the U.S., Europe and the U.K. The recognition is helping launch the Italy-born filmmaker’s next projects, including the working-title drama Vultures.

Why it matters: - The international run for The Three of Us gives Claudia Ventura early validation as a filmmaker working across drama and other genres. - The film’s awards and festival placements increase Ventura’s visibility in both Europe and the United States. - Ventura is using that momentum to build a larger career spanning directing, writing, producing and editing.

What happened: - Claudia Ventura, born and raised in Sardinia, Italy, was recognized for her debut short drama The Three of Us. - Ventura studied filmmaking at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. - The Three of Us received festival recognition in the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom.

The details: - The Three of Us earned honorable mentions at The Macoproject Film Festival 2025 in New York City and Folkestone Film Festival 2026 in Kent, United Kingdom. - The film was selected for Miami Beach Film Festival 2026 in the Social Issues Category, Love & Hope International Film Festival 2026 in the Drama Short Film Category, The Flight Deck Film Festival 2026 in the Best Short Film Category, and Liberty Films Festival 2026 in the Best Short Film Category. - The film received nominations at IndieX Film Fest 2025 for Best Drama Short, ETHOS Film Awards 2026 in the Short Film Fiction Category, and IndieX Film Fest 2026 for Best Cinematography. - The Three of Us advanced as semi-finalist or finalist at Indie Short Fest 2026 for Best Drama Short, Independent Shorts Awards International Film Festival 2026 for Best Drama Short, Dumbo Film Festival 2026 in the Short Narrative Category, and ORION IFF International Film Festival 2026 for Best Short Narrative Film. - The film won Best Drama at Florence Film Awards 2026. - The Three of Us also won Best Drama Short Film and Best First Time Director Short Film at Crown Point International Film Festival 2026. - The film received the Gold Award for Drama at Hollywood Gold Awards 2026 and Best Drama Short at Hollywood Blood Horror Festival 2026. - New York Movie Awards 2026 gave the film Best First Time Director, Silver Award for Drama, Silver Award for Director and Gold Award for Screenplay. - Festigious Los Angeles Monthly Film Competition 2026 recognized the film as Best Picture, Best Indie Film and Best Original Story. - The Three of Us also won Best Drama at Paradise Film Festival 2026, Best Cinematography at Critics Society Film Festival 2025, and Best Short Film at Rainier Film Festival 2026. - Ventura has also worked on Vultures, My Sea In Here, Same End, My Bloody Valentine, Party Girls, …Not Today, Little Brat!, The Last Rewind, Angelina, June and Opposites. - Ventura’s credits include producer, director, writer and editor roles on several projects. - Her other production work includes editing Jacuzzi, serving as first assistant director on Day Lily by Jalpan Nanavati and Hot Samantha by Frank Zanella, and working as script supervisor on Death Walks Into a Bar by Jalpan Nanavati and Bad Hair Day by Justin Paul Williams. - Ventura has also produced The Three of Us and Hot Samantha.

Between the lines: - The volume of festival notices suggests The Three of Us was positioned effectively for the international short-film circuit. - Ventura’s credits across production roles point to a filmmaker building practical experience as well as an on-screen artistic identity. - Her multilingual background in Italian, English and Spanish may help her work across markets and creative teams.

What’s next: - Ventura is developing Vultures, a drama she describes as the next stage of her filmmaking. - She is also advancing projects in development that include My Sea In Here, Same End, My Bloody Valentine, Party Girls, …Not Today, Little Brat!, The Last Rewind, Angelina, June and Opposites. - Ventura plans to continue building her career between Italy and the United States.

The bottom line: - The Three of Us has turned Ventura’s debut into a calling card, and the film’s awards streak gives her a platform for a broader international career.