His father was the late epigraphist Luigi Moretti, a Greek teacher at Sapienza University of Rome.

In 1978, he wrote, directed and starred in the movie Ecce Bombo, which tells the story of a student having problems with his entourage.

La messa è finita won the Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize at the 36th Berlin International Film Festival.

His other work has not been widely seen outside Europe, but within his country Moretti is known as a maker of wryly humorous and eccentric films, usually starring himself.

[8] He lives in Rome, having been resident since birth, where he is co-owner of a small movie theater, Nuovo Sacher, named like this because of Moretti's passion for Sachertorte.

[9] The short film, Il Giorno della prima di Close Up (Opening Day of Close-Up, 1996), shows Moretti at his theatre attempting to encourage patrons to attend the opening day of Abbas Kiarostami's film, Close Up.