Gianfranco is a Boston native and Los Angeles-based writer and director, who earned an MFA in Directing from the AFI Conservatory. His work explores wrought relationships that survive, even when stifled by the weight of responsibility, purpose and uncertainty. Often representing characters of diverse backgrounds, Gianfranco believes that culture, race, and tradition should be integral to a character’s identity, but always second to story. He is one of five selected finalists of the 2023 HBO Short Film Award for his work on “Jerome” and was selected as winner of the inaugural Flip the Script Short Film Fund for emerging BIPOC filmmakers. “Jerome” also received an Honorable Mention for Best Short Film at the Urbanworld Film Festival. His satirical horror short SABORRRR! premiered at Fantastic Fest and had its Los Angeles premiere at LALIFF. His feature script Summer of Mercedes is a Sundance Lab Second-Rounder and was a Nicholls Fellowship quarterfinalist.