Pier Francesco Pingitore (born 27 September 1934) is an Italian director, screenwriter, playwright and author, and co-founder of Il Bagaglino theatre company.

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Pier Francesco Pingitore was born on 27 September 1934 in Catanzaro.^[1]

Pingitore started his career as a journalist.^[1]

In 1965, with Mario Castellacci, Luciano Cirri, and Piero Palumbo, he co-founded "Il Bagaglino" theatre company (originally named "Bragaglino" as a tribute to Anton Giulio Bragaglia) in Rome.^[1][2] After local success, from 1973 the stage company gained success on television with the RAI variety show Dove sta Zazà? and with its numerous successor shows.^[1][2][3] Other members of the company included Leo Gullotta.^[4][5]

In 1966, Pingitore released the song "Avanti ragazzi di Buda".^[6][7]

In 1968, Pingitore made his film debut directing a documentary about the protests of the European youth. From 1975 to 1983 and again in 1992 he wrote and directed a series of satirical comedies starring Pippo Franco along with several members of Il Bagaglino, targeting various aspects of Italian society including political scandals, football, school, and the music industry.^[2][8]

In 2020, it was announced that Pingitore would be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit [hu] for writing "Avanti ragazzi di Buda".^[7]