He got his start as an excellent television director, an experience that allowed him to develop his talents though his varied experiences before he made his debut as a film director.... Battiato is skilled at genre films and ably exploiting the technical aspects of filmmaking.

His characters' psychological profiles were convincing even within the context of his epic and action films....Born in Verona and married to Anna Zaneva since 1999, he began his career in 1973 on Italian RAI TV and ten years later started in cinema with I paladini.

He has staged several operas, including Verdi's Simon Boccanegra in Stuttgart, Germany, and Mozart's Così fan tutte in Naples, Italy.

He has also directed special programmes and documentaries, including: Expressionismus, which won the MIFED Gran Prix; a portrait of Pierre Boulez; a film on Italian Design for the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Such prizes include the One Show Gold Award from the Art Directors Club of New York, the Andy Award of Excellence from the Advertising Club in New York, and the Lion d'Or at 20th Cannes International Advertising Film Festival.