[2] After attending school and studying political science at the University of Florence, he started working at a frozen food company.

[4] Avati's passion for music, as well as his love for his hometown, which was the setting of many of his films, were to become recurrent themes found in his productions.

Avati began his career directing horror films and is considered one of the most notable Italian directors of this genre,[4] with titles including La casa dalle finestre che ridono (The House with Laughing Windows, 1976) and Zeder (1983), which are considered his masterpieces.

Moreover, the series was successful and brought Avati to the attention of a wider public compared to his previous films.

During his career as a director, screenwriter, and producer, Avati was nominated for the Golden Palm, Silver Ribbons, David di Donatello Awards, and many others.

Avati was nominated Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana on 2 June 1995.