Born in Bologna , Emilia-Romagna , Baldi graduated in Social science at the Sapienza University in Rome and then enrolled at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia . He debuted as a director of documentary shorts , and in 1958 he won the Golden Lion for best short film at the Venice Film Festival with '' Il pianto delle zitelle '' ( " '' The crying of spinsters '' " ) . He directed a number of independent films , generally characterized by social criticism . His film '' Fuoco ! '' entered the main competition at the 29th Venice International Film Festival , while the film '' L'ultimo giorno di scuola prima delle vacanze di Natale '' ( aka '' The Last Day of School Before Christmas '' ) was screened at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors ' Fortnight section
1975 Cannes Film Festival
1975 Cannes Film Festival
Gian Vittorio Baldi