• Daniele Sestito is a director, screenwriter, and creative support based in the NYC-NJ area, where he was raised. He is a dedicated spiritual seeker, a modern ascetic, and being a second-generation Italian immigrant, he is bicultural and bilingual.

    He’s been honing his craft as a filmmaker for nearly 10 years and is a BFA graduate of Emerson College. Recently, his work screened at SeriesFest, Dances With Films, the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY), Catalyst Story Institute, and more. In 2023, he was also a fellow of the AICP’s Mentoring Program. He is currently developing and writing several short films to follow the success of his independent series pilot, Off The Menu.

    Purpose, discovery, truth, and rhythm are at the heart of his creative process, motivating his expressive use of the craft. His life’s work is to make cinematic stories of all sorts that deeply resonate as much as they entertain, presenting clarity and appreciation towards overlooked aspects of life.

  • E: d.s.sestito@gmail.com

    T: 732.610.6960

  • — Fellow of the 2023 AICP Mentoring Program (Association of Independent Commercial Producers)

    Off The Menu (2023):

    — SeriesFest - Official Selection, Independent Pilot Competition

    — Dances With Films: NYC - Official Selection

    — NFFTY - Jury Nominee, Episodic Showcase

    — Lake Placid Episodic Festival x Catalyst Story Institute - Official Selection

    — Mystic Film Festival - Best Actor - George Lombardo as “Chef”

    — EVVY Awards - Outstanding Writing For Film

    — Emerson College’s Black Box Production Design Grant - Recipient

    — IndieActivity: Filmmaker Daniele Sestito Cooks-Up Series Project, "Off The Menu"

    — La Voce di New York: Lo chef e la pena di morte: “Off The Menu” di Daniele Sestito

    My Father (2021):

    — Film Shortage - Daily Short Pick

    — Beyond The Short - Featured

    — Indie Street Film Festival - Official Selection

  • Some of Daniele’s favorite films include: Bicycle Thieves (1948) - Some Like It Hot (1959) - Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966) - The Graduate (1967) - Playtime (1967) - Chinatown (1974) - E.T. (1982) - Do The Right Thing (1989) - Hoop Dreams (1994) - Punch-Drunk Love (2002) - Before Sunset (2004) - Spider-Man 2 (2004) - The Squid and the Whale (2005) - Silent Light (2007) - There Will Be Blood (2007) - The White Ribbon (2009) - The Master (2012) - Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) - Moonlight (2016) - Good Time (2017) - The Favourite (2018) - The Old Man & the Gun (2018) - The Lighthouse (2019) - The French Dispatch (2021).

    His favorite films of 2023 include: Dream Scenario - The Holdovers - Perfect Days

    His favorite films of 2022 include: The Fabelmans - Tar - Triangle of Sadness

    His favorite films of 2021 include: Dune - The French Dispatch - Inside - Licorice Pizza - Petite Maman - Red Rocket - Spencer - West Side Story .

    . . . . . . . . . .

    Daniele’s favorite songs include: Angelina (McAlpine) - Cannock Chase (Siffre) - Edge of Desire & Walt Grace’s Submarine Test (Mayer) - Everything Put Together Falls Apart & Run That Body Down (Simon) - Georgia to Texas (Bridges) - History Eraser (Barnett) - I Am The Walrus & Rocky Raccoon (Beatles) - i love you (Ellish) - In The High of the Morning (Twain) - I Shall Be Released (The Band) - Junk (McCartney) - Lipstick Vogue (Costello) - The Lovers That Never Were (McCartney, Costello) - Oh Louisiana (Berry) - One of These Things First (Drake) - One More Cup of Coffee (Dylan) - Overs (Simon & Garfunkel) - Paper Bag (Apple) - Parole Parole (Mina) - Pienso en tu mirá (Rosalía) - Street You Live On (Wolf) - Sunset Canyon (Foxwarren) - Terrified (Gambino).

    His favorite film compositions include: Agape (Beale Street) - Chance of Rain & Breakdown (Magnolia) - Driving Home with Stolen Treasures (Last Black Man in San Francisco) - E.T. Is Alive! & Chase (E.T.) - Freeze Sailor & Jewels For Jewel & Officially Retired (The Old Man & the Gun) - Fire Temple (Midsommar) - Hug From Dad (Whiplash) - I Still Can’t Sleep / Betsy’s Theme (Taxi Driver) - Main Title (Cool Hand Luke) - One Summer Day (Spirited Away) - Overtones (The Master) - Piano Two (Synecdoche) - Prospector’s Quartet (There Will Be Blood) - Sad, Sad, Sad (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) - Setting The Type (The Post) - The Wake (Knives Out) - The Wrong Clue (Chinatown).

    Daniele loves the music videos of Paul Thomas Anderson, including: Across The Universe - Paper Bag - Daydreaming - Hallelujah.