The Directors: Mariano Nante
Mariano Nante is a visionary filmmaker and producer, who studied philosophy and writes about cinema. Educated at Universidad del Cine (FUC) and the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). Based in Argentina, he directs narrative, documentary, and commercial projects for top-tier clients and agencies both locally and globally.
In recent years, he’s worked with some of the world’s most celebrated classical music icons like Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim, Plácido Domingo, Klaus Mäkelä, Daniil Trifonov, Alexandre Tharaud, and Mischa Maisky.
At just 26, Mariano wrote, directed, and produced 'Pianists Street' (La Calle de los Pianistas), a feature documentary shot in Belgium and Argentina. The film premiered to critical acclaim at the iconic Teatro Colón, closing the Buenos Aires International Film Festival. It was named Best Documentary of the Year by both the National Academy of Motion Pictures (Premio Sur) and the Society of Film Critics (Premio Cóndor).
As a producer, Nante’s credits include 'Piazzolla: The Years of the Shark', co-produced with ARTE France and directed by Daniel Rosenfeld, which premiered at IDFA to high praise. He also produced Sebastián Alfie’s 'The Kaiser of Atlantis', a documentary that premiered at Málaga Film Festival and went on to win 12 international awards.
In his directing portfolio, Nante has 'Beethoven: Last Sonatas', a musical film for ARTE France, 'Idéale Audience', and 'Warner Classics', featuring celebrated French pianist Alexandre Tharaud. He also co-directed the ARTE TV series 'Concert Privé', starring Daniel Barenboim, Martha Argerich, and Mischa Maisky.
Beyond film, Mariano and his father, Bernardo Nante, co-authored 'The Cinema of the Sacred' (El Cine de lo Sagrado), and he is currently working on a second book exploring the concept of the sublime.
Name: Mariano Nante
Location: Buenos Aires
Represented by: Mama Hungara, Antiestático, Quijote Films, Moonheist, 5to Elemento, Ka&O.
Awards: Premio Sur (Academy of Motion Pictures of Argentina), Premio Cóndor (Critics Society), Best Director (Málaga Film Festival), among others.
Clients: The Coca-Cola Company, Toyota, Stella Artois, Fifa, AMD, Mercadopago, Personal, Deutsche Grammophon, ARTE, GUT, VML, BBDO, Connill, Anita &Vega, JWT, McCann, Super, Lugo among others.
“I feel extremely lucky to be able to work on all kinds of projects—from classical music documentaries to visually rich and complex commercials.”
LBB> Your work spans a diverse range of genres, from feature documentaries to live performances and commercials. How does your background in philosophy influence your storytelling across these different formats?
Mariano> My background in philosophy is like my toolbox; it helps me tackle every project and shapes how I want to live my life. Some of my work comes straight from specific philosophical or spiritual texts, while in other cases, the influence might be a bit more subtle but is still there. Thinkers from different times, like Plato, Rudolf Otto, Simone Weil, and even Andrei Tarkovsky, have really shaped how I see the world and my approach to my craft.
Their ideas are always part of what I do, even if I don’t always openly discuss it. They guide my creative process and influence my choices, even when the connection to philosophy isn’t super obvious.
LBB> Given your extensive work with both renowned classical musicians and in the commercial world, how do you balance the artistic depth of documentary filmmaking with the creative demands of directing commercials, and what common threads do you see between these two mediums?
Mariano> I feel extremely lucky to be able to work on all kinds of projects—from classical music documentaries to visually rich and complex commercials. Even though the mediums and vibes are different, I dive into each one with the same curiosity and passion.
Whether I’m making a documentary or a commercial, I bring my craftsmanship and rely on the skills I’ve built over the years. What always drives me is the desire to tell a story and stir emotions with images and sound. Each project has its own needs, and I stay open to exploring new ways to communicate while learning something new every time.
I’m really grateful to be able to work across such different genres, always surrounded by talented, passionate people who are co-creating these visions with me.
Mariano Nante with opera singer, Hera Hyesang Park, filming her latest video, 'While You Live', at Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires.
LBB> In 'Pianists Street', you beautifully capture the intimate world of classical music. What draws you to working with musicians, and how do you approach translating the subtleties of their art into film?
Mariano> I really admire musicians for the incredible magic that happens when they sit down with their instruments and pour their souls into their music. It’s like a direct connection from their heart to the listeners’, no words needed. That sacred act has always fascinated me, and ever since I was a kid, I wanted to figure out how it all works—kind of like trying to crack the code of a magic trick.
But unlike magic, where knowing the secret ruins the surprise, getting to know a great artist just makes the mystery even deeper. My camera became my way of exploring this, a tool for capturing and sharing what I see in these musicians. It’s a tricky and winding process to translate their art into film while keeping that deep, personal connection intact.
The film, 'La Calle de los Pianistas', premiered at the iconic Teatro Colón, closing the Buenos Aires International Film Festival.
LBB> What challenges and creative opportunities did you encounter while directing well-known actors, and how did their presence elevate the overall production?
Mariano> From my experience, the most famous and amazing actors are often the easiest to work with. The mastery of their craft, their aura and their presence inspires the entire production.
One experience I’ll always treasure is working with Argentine legend Guillermo Francella (picture below). His professionalism, dedication, and incredible talent, along with his unique energy, made it an unforgettable shoot. This really highlights a magical quality of the cinematic world that’s hard to grasp.
What we call star quality is both tangible and inexplicable; it’s something a director feels the second a true star walks onto the set. A great actor, especially one with that special “je ne sais quoi”, just lights up the scene. Their magnetism and presence make it so much easier for the director—you just have to stay open and appreciate the power they bring to the screen.
Mariano Nante directing the well-known Argentine actor, Guillermo Francella, for a BPlay campaign.
LBB> As a director and producer, what are the most significant challenges you’ve faced when working on international productions, and how do you overcome them?
Mariano> The hardest and most rewarding part of any project is putting together the right team. The value of what you create is completely tied to the people behind it. Everything we do is the result of collaboration and finding the right balance between everyone involved.
I’ve been lucky enough to work with some incredibly talented, passionate people who genuinely believe in what they do. The real challenge is finding those collaborators, the ones who will dream and work tirelessly alongside yourself, no matter what the project is.
Teamwork is like a kind of alchemy; it’s all about adapting, learning from each other and growing together, which is key to bringing any vision to life.
LBB> You’ve collaborated with iconic names like Martha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim. How do you maintain your creative voice when working with such legendary figures?
Mariano> For me, cinema and any kind of audio-visual art is all about capturing real emotions and human connection. The tricky part of working with well-known figures, as it’s easy to get stuck on their public image, is getting past the myth and focusing on the human being behind the persona. When you genuinely work on reflecting who they are, everything else in the creative process falls into place.
The key is to stay open to their humanity and let that guide where things go, instead of forcing a certain style or vision that doesn’t naturally come from the subject.
LBB> Tell us about your experience directing a project at the Teatro Colón.
Mariano> One of the most creatively fulfilling experiences I’ve had was directing the music video for Hera Hyesang Park’s song 'While You Live'.
This project came out of a long-standing friendship with Hera, and it came to life thanks to the passion, trust, and creativity of the Mama Hungara team. Hera and I dreamed up the idea of flooding Teatro Colón and having her swim through its majestic spaces, like something straight out of a vivid dream.
The whole concept was actually inspired by a dream Hera had confided in me, and together, we turned that dream into a shared vision.
Mariano Nante live directing with the Mama Hungara Team for Hera’s concert at Teatro Colón.
Working with a dedicated and talented team, we brought this vision to life in a way that went beyond what we imagined. On top of making the video, together with Mama Hungara we also got the chance to produce Hera’s concert at Teatro Colón, where the video was screened while she sang.
Seeing our work come to life in the very theatre where it was conceived was such a fulfilling moment.
It really showed how powerful it is to believe in a vision and have the right people around to make it happen—a perfect example of turning an artist’s dream into something real and unforgettable.
Poster of the film, 'While You Live', directed by Mariano Nante, produced by Mama Hungara for Deutsche Grammophon - Photograph by Sisso & Chouela, design by Javier Reboursin.
