Stefano Da Fre is an AFI-Award Winning Film Director & President of Rosso Films International. He directed and produced the gripping crime docudrama STOLEN DOUGH a ‘David vs. Goliath’ tale of ambition and betrayal that premiered on Apple TV+. Backed by powerhouse studio AGBO and the Russo Brothers, this landmark project showcases Da Fre’s masterful storytelling and unflinching lens on corporate greed and human injustice. Da Fre also directed and produced the documentary The Girl Who Cannot Speak, featured on NBC.com & PEACOCK. It explores five women’s true stories of sexual abuse and trauma. The film was presented at Meet-The-Press Film Festival, in collaboration with the American Film Institute.

How many years have you been a judge?

5+

What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?

I am honored to be on the panel for the Telly Awards. This is an inspiring community that celebrates bold creative voices and cinematic storytelling across media & platforms. I look forward to ushering in a new era of art and entertainment with a committee of fellow artists and supporters of cinema!

What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?

I worked as a Production Assistant on an HBO show just out of school. My job was to do bagel & coffee runs and take out trash. It was such a humbling experience. We were doing 16 hour days (don’t tell the union!) But I loved it. It gave me such insight into a world that I’m inspired & challenged by more and more as I evolve in this industry.

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

The project I’m most proud of is a feature film called “STOLEN DOUGH.” I was fortunate to get a directorial grant from the Russo Brothers National Italian American Film Forum, in collaboration with AGBO. It tells the story of Anthony Mongiello, a food product inventor whose patent for stuffed crust pizza was stolen by Pizza Hut in the mid-1990s. “STOLEN DOUGH” embodies everything I love about cinema – the story of the American Dream, the music, the production choices. I, fortunately, had the final cut to achieve a vision that I held close from the start. I worked closely with sales agents to get a distribution deal on Amazon and Apple TV. And I love the team I had by my side. It was an amazing experience.

What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?

Funding. It’s so important to persevere and not allow money to delay progress. Keep going. Apply for grants, prepare your packages so they reflect a vision you’re proud of, and go to networking events. It’s very important to put yourself out there and show you have skin in the game.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

I look for a commitment to telling a story in a unique & innovative way. The idea itself can be simple, but how it’s executed is everything. You live and die by your creative choices. Take risks. Big ones. You won’t regret it. Also, make sure your beginning is something that audiences cannot look away from.

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

As President of Rosso Films International, it is my responsibility to work with commercial and film clients to ensure their production needs are not only met, but exceeded. It’s all about quality. When Laura Pellegrini (my producer) and I choose a project, we’re in it for the long haul; and we make that choice based on the material and the people. I love collaborating with like-minded producers and creatives that push a process forward, and then working on the back end with sales agents and distributors to ensure that project is seen. Each project comes with its own set of challenges that have pushed me to think outside the box, when it comes to funding, assembling a crew, scouting locations, etc. This has been a rewarding outcome of working with new people.

What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?

I am currently in post-production for a narrative feature film called “The Portrait Of A Blind Painter.” It’s based on a remarkable true story about a painter named Daniel, who has a rare form of blindness that he struggles with while navigating the art world of New York City. The film co-stars Clara McGregor (who starred in “Bleeding Love” with Ewan McGregor). This project is very personal as it touches on disability in the arts and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Another project I’m working on is “Nothing Less Than Wild,” a documentary that explores the creative graffiti collaborations between Jean-Michel Basquiat and Al Diaz. The film has Sara Driver as a consulting producer and will resume production in early 2026. I’m very excited to show new dimensions of Basquiat as an artist and explore the transformational nature of graffiti as a tool for social change.

Do you have any specific practices you lean on to spark creativity?

I love going to concerts, watching old films from Jean-Luc Godard and Michelangelo Antonioni, and going for walks around Central Park. These are just a few rituals that fuel my creativity. That, and a good espresso!

What inspired you to pursue your career path?

My time at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan inspired my desire to become a director and producer. I experienced, on a practical level, how films were built. Understanding the true ‘nuts and bolts’ of filmmaking – color temperatures, lenses, camera rigging – demystified the process for me. I really got to learn how each department functioned, both independently and as part of the collective. Having that experience has made me a methodical & pragmatic creative person. I also love working with people. I love their ideas. And I love being the captain of a ship to drive those ideas home.

In your experience, what is a significant change you are seeing happen in the video, television, and/or film industry, and what insight can you share about how to navigate it?

When people say independent cinema is “dead,” I don’t buy that. Independent creators are no longer on the fringes of the industry. They now command massive, highly engaged audiences that traditional media companies even struggle to reach. A lot of power lies with a creator, especially as we move towards more advanced modes of self-distribution and marketing. There is a lot of cynicism around film now, but I’m an optimist by nature. Do not lose hope in independent film. The winds will always change, you just need to find ways to adjust your sails.