Paolo Fiore: A Conversation on Cinema

Paolo Fiore is part of a new generation of creatives navigating the space between cinema and the digital world.

Born and raised in a small town in Germany to a German-Czech mother and an Italian father, he grew up between cultures before moving to Berlin to pursue acting. What began during the COVID era gradually evolved into a wider creative career spanning acting, directing, and visual storytelling online. With his new short film “Before It Faded”, Fiore continues to explore character-driven stories while carving out a personal path toward filmmaking beyond the algorithm.

IRK: What is your earliest memory of cinema, the movie world?

Paolo Fiore: If I really go back to the beginning, it’s probably watching old Disney movies on cassette tapes with my little brother.  But the first time I felt something deeper about cinema was later. Around five or six years ago I started watching older films, especially Martin Scorsese movies. I had always been fascinated by films and by how they were made. As a teenager I loved watching behind-the-scenes videos on YouTube. If I liked a film, I immediately wanted to see how it was shot.

IRK: How has your multicultural background shaped your artistic vision? 

Paolo Fiore: Growing up with different cultures made me very interested in languages. I was never great in school subjects like math, but languages always came naturally to me.  Although, I sometimes feel like I don’t fully belong to one specific identity. Some communities have a very strong cultural core, which is beautiful. I sometimes wish I had that one clear identity I could fully represent. But at the same time, growing up with several cultures made me very open-minded. I feel like I carry different influences within me, and I’m very comfortable adapting to new environments.

IRK: Has there been someone in your life whose words, attitude, or way of speaking has influenced the way you portray your characters?

Paolo Fiore: Most of the inspiration actually comes from my friends. I’m a pretty calm and quiet person myself, but some of my friends are very expressive and eccentric. When I’m preparing for certain roles, I sometimes think about the way they speak, move, or interact with people.

IRK: How do you manage switching between different roles – actor, director, creative director – without losing your rhythm?

Paolo Fiore: Honestly, sometimes it’s really hard. With my recent short film, for example, I was the main actor, co-director, writer, and producer at the same time. On top of that there are the day-to-day things like meetings, social media work, or other creative projects. It can feel overwhelming because you’re constantly switching between completely different mindsets. But over time I’ve developed a routine that works for me. And I’m lucky to have good people around me who keep me grounded and help when things become too much.

IRK: Since starting your acting career, do you feel people are easier to understand, or do they only become more mysterious?

Paolo Fiore: I think it’s both. Acting forces you to step into someone else’s perspective. You have to ask yourself what a person is feeling, what their motivations are, and what experiences shaped them. That process definitely helps you understand people better. At the same time, actors can spend a lot of time in their own heads. When you’re too focused on yourself, you sometimes miss what’s happening around you.

IRK: Is there a part of the movie industry that you have mixed feelings about?

Paolo Fiore: Networking events. Sometimes they feel very hollow. You go to events and it often feels like people are thinking about what they can gain from each other instead of having genuine conversations. That can make the environment feel a bit fake. Of course, there are great events where you meet interesting people and have meaningful discussions. Additionally, I see a lot of movement towards short form or even social media productions, in the sense of that traditional movie making becomes more rare. I still want to create work that you really have to sit with and that resonates with people over time, instead of making something that’s just meant to catch peoples attention and reach high numbers. I want to make art and express myself. That’s why I love to come back to traditional forms of filmmaking, like shooting on film and taking my time with my work.

IRK: If you could be a fly for a day, on whose wall would you love to spend that day and why?

Paolo Fiore: As an actor, I would love to observe Daniel Day-Lewis. Watching his process would be fascinating. Outside of filmmaking, I’d also be curious to observe someone like Barack Obama. I’ve always been interested in political leaders and how they actually think and make decisions behind the scenes. Honestly, even someone like Donald Trump would be interesting to observe right now, just to understand what really goes on in those environments.

IRK: If you had a time machine and could travel to any movie set in the past, where would you go first?

Paolo Fiore: Probably the set of “Taxi Driver” in 1970s New York. I actually have a poster of it in my room. That era of New York and the atmosphere of that film is fascinating to me. The music, the mood, the whole aesthetic, it’s incredible. I even listened to the “Taxi Driver” score while writing my recent short film to get into the character’s mindset.

IRK: If you could choose one actor, director, or other filmmaker, to have a cup of coffee with, who would it be?

Paolo Fiore: The first person who comes to mind is Austin Butler. I really admire his work. From what I’ve seen, we seem to approach filmmaking in a similar way. He’s also relatively young in the industry, which means his experiences are closer to the world I’m entering. I think there’s a lot I could learn from that conversation.

IRK: Are there any artistic mediums you would like to explore next?

Paolo Fiore: Yes, actually. I’m currently working on a small clothing line with one of my best friends, who is a fashion designer. A lot of people online follow me partly because of the way I dress. I love vintage clothing. There’s something timeless about it and the history behind those pieces. So we’re creating a small collection inspired by that aesthetic. It won’t have my name on it, it’s more about the style and the idea behind it.

IRK: Final important question:  What is one movie that you think everyone should see at least once?

Paolo Fiore: If we’re talking about a film with a universal human message, I’d probably say “Forrest Gump”. It’s such a beautiful story and it resonates with so many people. But my personal favorite film is “No Country for Old Men”. I think everyone should see it at least once. It’s incredibly well made, the atmosphere is amazing, and the characters are unforgettable.

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Check out Paolo Fiore’s portfolio here.

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