Rosario Brucato

Rosario Brucato (born November 23, 1983 in Nicosia, Sicily, Italy)^[1] is an Italian independent filmmaker, screenwriter, film editor, and producer, best known for his short films The Different Being (2017) and The Vanishing Hitchhiker (2020). His work, which explores themes such as discrimination, social exclusion, and the supernatural, has garnered international recognition through multiple awards and screenings at prominent film festivals.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]}

Career

In 2017, Brucato wrote, directed, edited, and produced The Different Being, a short film blending elements of horror and psychological suspense.^[9]The story follows a young man with a physical deformity who, marginalized by society, finds solace only in his psychiatrist and his mother, highlighting themes of discrimination and social exclusion.^[10] The film won several awards at international festivals and was distributed on Amazon Prime Video.^[11][1]

In 2020, Brucato released The Vanishing Hitchhiker, a short horror film inspired by the classic urban legend.^[12] The film seamlessly blends supernatural and psychological elements, earning praise for its direction, editing, and performances, as well as its atmosphere and suspense.^{[13][14][15] [16]}It has won several awards in the horror genre and was distributed by Cineverse.^[17] His films also received coverage from Italian media outlets, including PalermoToday,^[8] TrevisoToday,^[18] IlSicilia.it^[11],Nordest24,^[17] and others.

In addition to his directorial work, Brucato is the founder of R.B. Cinema, an independent production company that produces and promotes his films.^[17] His films have been screened internationally.

Brucato is currently working on his third short film, The Evil Brooch (2025), which delves into themes of demonic possession. The film, shot at Villa Malvolti in Venice, presents a unique take on the exorcism ritual, incorporating the use of a sacred object and exploring the balance between faith and the struggle against darkness.^[17]

Filmography

The Different Being (2017) – Short film

The Vanishing Hitchhiker (2020) – Short film

The Evil Brooch (TBA) – Short film^[17]

Awards and Recognition

Brucato has received several accolades and official selections, including:

• Bronze Remi Award at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival.^[19]

• Best Foreign Language Film at the Bare Bones International Film Festival.^[19]

• Best of Fest Encores at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Film Festival.^[12]

• Outstanding Achievement Award for Debut Filmmaker at the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival.^[3]

• Official Selection at the Fright Night Film Fest.^[20]

• Official Selection at the Route 66 Film Festival.^[21][16]

His work has also been publicly screened at the Dickens Horror Film Festival in Colorado.^[16] The Vanishing Hitchhiker was officially selected in both the Berlin Lift-Off Global Network and Extravaganza sections of the international festival The Lift-Off Sessions.^[19] Over the years, Brucato's films have won numerous additional awards for editing, directing, and acting at various international film festivals, further establishing his reputation in the independent film scene. He has also received accolades in Germany^[22] for editing, in Spain as Best Filmmaker,^[7] and, notably, has triumphed in Los Angeles, Hollywood, New York, Texas, and many other states across the United States.^{[20][3][16] [19]}