Famed male Italian director reveals he was born a woman at Venice Film Festival

Director Emanuele Crialese with actress Penelope Cruz, the star of his film 'L'Immensita' in competition. Photo: Reuters

Award-winning Italian director Emanuele Crialese revealed on Sunday (Sept 4) that he had been born a woman as he presented his highly autobiographical movie L'Immensita, starring Penelope Cruz, at the Venice Film Festival.

L'Immensita focuses on an Italian family growing up in 1970s Rome, where the eldest daughter identifies as a boy, throwing fuel onto already tense relations between her mother, played by Cruz, and her abusive, unfaithful father.