Graduated in architecture, after 1968 Maurizio Nichetti moved his first steps in the show business, studied the art of miming and worked at the Piccolo Teatro di Milano. In 1974 he founded the QuellidiGrock theatre cooperative. From 1970 to 1978 he worked as cartoon screenwriter in Bruno Bozzetto’s studio, authoring three feature films of the series 'Sig. Rossi' and the mixed technique film 'Allegro non troppo'. In 1979 he wrote, directed and starred in his first movie,'Ratataplan', which was extremely well-received both nationally and internationally. Over the course of his career as actor-director, he worked at about ten productions. He also worked in tv, hosting several programs ('Quovadiz?' and 'Pista!') and directing over 150 commercials. In 1998 he was a member of the jury of the Berlin International Film Festival and in 1999 of the jury of the Cannes Festival. Over the course of his career, he was awarded with three Nastri d’argento: 1980 - 'Ratataplan', best debut director; 1989: 'Ladri di saponette',best original script; 1997 'Luna e l’altra', best film director;in 1991 he was awarded with the David di Donatello for the 'Volere Volare' screenplay. He won the Moscow Festival in 1989 with 'Ladri di Saponette', the Montreal Festival in 1990 with 'Volere Volare' and the Brussels International Fanstastic Film Festival with 'Luna e l’altra' in 1997. From 2005 to 2011 he chaired the Trento Film Festival committee. Back to theatre, over the last ten years he directed various theatre productions, operas such as a 'Barbiere di Siviglia” and 'Don Pasquale' and two operettas, 'Il Paese dei campanelli' and 'Cin-Ci-Là'. Since 2014 he is the artistic director of the advertising and industrial cinema course at CSC Milan campus.