Marco Balsamo(I)
- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Marco Balsamo is a writer, director, and an emerging creative force in global animation and storytelling. He is the co-founder and COO of Film Launchpad (filmlaunchpad.com) and RIVA Studios (rivastudios.com), and currently serves as President and CEO of TeamTO (teamto.com), one of Europe's leading independent animation studios.
Marco began his animation career at just 19, serving as Chief Creative Officer of MSV Pictures in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. At 23, he became the youngest writer with a sole feature film credit on Netflix with The Brave, an action-thriller he wrote and produced. The film premiered at #1 across CIS box offices and held the top spot for three consecutive weeks.
He is currently making his live-action directorial debut with Forza, a sports drama filmed in Indonesia and Italy in collaboration with AC Milan, and directing Akira's Flying Wheelchair, a 2D animated fantasy-adventure inspired by the works of Studio Ghibli. Under RIVA, Marco is also developing a growing slate of animated and live-action projects in collaboration with top international studios and streaming platforms.
As a creative consultant, Marco has worked with Netflix, Toei Animation, Wayfarer Studios, and other major content companies, helping to shape global, cross-cultural narratives across television and film.
Beyond the screen, Marco is a lifelong soccer enthusiast and the Co-Founder and Executive Director of FA Euro New York, a 501(c)(3) non-profit soccer club launched in 2013. The organization serves over 1,000 youth players annually and is the only Brooklyn-based club to hold an MLS NEXT franchise in partnership with Major League Soccer.
Marco began his animation career at just 19, serving as Chief Creative Officer of MSV Pictures in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. At 23, he became the youngest writer with a sole feature film credit on Netflix with The Brave, an action-thriller he wrote and produced. The film premiered at #1 across CIS box offices and held the top spot for three consecutive weeks.
He is currently making his live-action directorial debut with Forza, a sports drama filmed in Indonesia and Italy in collaboration with AC Milan, and directing Akira's Flying Wheelchair, a 2D animated fantasy-adventure inspired by the works of Studio Ghibli. Under RIVA, Marco is also developing a growing slate of animated and live-action projects in collaboration with top international studios and streaming platforms.
As a creative consultant, Marco has worked with Netflix, Toei Animation, Wayfarer Studios, and other major content companies, helping to shape global, cross-cultural narratives across television and film.
Beyond the screen, Marco is a lifelong soccer enthusiast and the Co-Founder and Executive Director of FA Euro New York, a 501(c)(3) non-profit soccer club launched in 2013. The organization serves over 1,000 youth players annually and is the only Brooklyn-based club to hold an MLS NEXT franchise in partnership with Major League Soccer.
