Multi-Talented Movie Star Enzo Zelocchi is On an Awards Roll With No War

When war broke out in Ukraine in February 2022, while most of the world simply watched, Enzo Zelocchi sprung into action. Looking back on the incredible events that followed, this striking dynamic aligns perfectly with the personality of a movie star known for his adrenaline-pumping and heroic portrayals. However, at the time, colleagues working on Zelocchi’s production team must have wondered what ride they were on—and things were only going to get crazier from there.

Today, we know without a doubt that Zelocchi’s bold and instinctive movie-making gamble paid off in abundance. In case you missed the memo, the daring leap in question was to pull resources from a zombie feature in the making and instead craft a movie set right at the heart of the emerging conflict. That film was No War, and its arrival has created a ripple effect that has run right around the world.

Excitingly, Zelocchi’s audacious and compassionate decision resulted in a movie that has been met across continents with critical acclaim. At time of writing, Zelocchi’s IMDB page is populated with more than 280 awards from a dizzying global array of prestigious film festivals, in cities ranging from New York to Berlin, to Calcutta, and beyond.

• The Making of a Movie For Our Times

There aren’t many filmmakers that could pull off taking a film like No War from inception to release in less than a year, but Zelocchi is unusually equipped in this regard. Having developed a knack for writing, directing, starring in, and producing many of his most praised features, Zelocchi certainly had the muscle to manifest a miracle. 

Amusingly, that manifestation began as Zelocchi calmly scouted post-apocalyptic locations for a previously planned undead project that was—at least for the time being—destined to be shelved. Soon, the creative visionary would realize that the locations in question looked very much like the devastating real-world shots that were increasingly showing on the nightly news.

With Zelocchi known for balancing a tough-guy persona with the rich emotional palette of a truly modern man, the star’s 10-million-strong social media following wouldn’t have been surprised to learn that the actor was moved by the plight of Ukraine. However, few may have anticipated that he would not only write and propel into production a film about the war, but also cast a real-life Ukrainian refugee as his co-star.

The gifted Ukrainian child actor in question, Emila Nimak, plays Malen’kaya, a refugee fleeing Russian soldiers who seeks assistance from a CIA operative who is undercover within her home country’s warzone. Zelocchi, meanwhile, masterfully plays the agent, John, who serves as the girl’s protector as they navigate a perilous backdrop of chaos in an attempt to reach safety.

• Recognition for Enzo Zelocchi’s Broad Cinematic Skillset 

While Zelocchi and his team would surely have known that No War was becoming a creation with real power, they must still be delighted by the incredible rapture that has greeted it so far on the awards circuit. For Zelocchi, it is particularly exhilarating to see the multi-talented movie-maker’s diverse skillset drawing recognition.

At ceremonies such as the Berlin International Art Film Festival, the Rome International Movie Awards, the New York Independent Film Awards, and the Cannes World Film Festival, Zelocchi’s impressive multitude of award wins have shone a well-deserved spotlight on not only his chameleon-like acting abilities but also his vision as a director and producer. 

Knowing, as we do, that this awards season is far from over and that Zelocchi has plenty more projects up his sleeve, it will be a thrill to see where the Hollywood maestro’s creative mind takes us next.