Andrei Sporea’s journey in the film industry started humbly, growing up in Brooklyn and Queens, New York. At 42, he’s a long way from his early days as an extra on shows like Sex and the City, now a director and producer with several films under his belt, and the owner of his own production company, Mafiotto Films.
Finding His Footing
Though Andrei studied Computer Science at Delaware State University, his true passion was always filmmaking. During his time on the East Coast, he grabbed every opportunity he could to be part of the film world. As an extra, he got a front-row seat to how the industry worked. Those early roles might not have been glamorous, but they taught him valuable lessons about how movies were made.
In 2009, like many aspiring filmmakers before him, Andrei took a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles. Once there, he didn’t wait around for opportunities to come his way. Instead, he created his own path by launching Mafiotto Films. It was a bold step, but Andrei knew if he wanted to take his career seriously, he needed to start creating his own films.
First Steps and Early Struggles
Andrei’s first film, No Leaf Clover, didn’t go as planned. In fact, by his own admission, it was a disaster. “Everything went wrong, and everything was wrong,” Andrei recalls with a laugh. But he doesn’t shy away from talking about this early failure. The film may not have been great, but it was finished, and that in itself was a success. It was a hard lesson, but it taught him that every mistake is an opportunity to improve.
With each project after No Leaf Clover, Andrei focused on getting better. He upgraded his equipment, worked with stronger actors, and found better scripts. Short films like Amateurs and Limo Driver allowed him to experiment, refine his skills, and learn from every mistake along the way.
Breakthrough with Business of Betrayal
Eventually, all those lessons paid off. Andrei’s feature film, Business of Betrayal, became his biggest success, earning five awards and landing distribution on over 25 video-on-demand platforms. It even found international distribution in Turkey. This wasn’t just a high point in his career; it validated all the years of hard work, trial, and error.
Andrei attributes much of this success to the gradual improvements he made over time. From the early days of scrambling with poor sound quality and tough shoots to working with professional crews and actors, each experience built upon the last. Now, he’s proud of what he’s achieved and sees Business of Betrayal as proof that persistence pays off.
Venturing Into Horror with Demon Fever
Not one to rest on his laurels, Andrei is branching out with his latest project, Demon Fever, his first horror film. Written by Nicole Sixx, Demon Fever is a project he’s incredibly excited about. He’s brought together a talented team and believes this film will eclipse the success of his previous work. Set to release in the summer of 2025, Andrei is confident it will make waves, not just in the horror genre, but in independent filmmaking as a whole.
Looking Forward: Fever Fog and Presidents Men
Andrei isn’t slowing down anytime soon. He’s already working on his next feature film, Fever Fog, a co-directing venture with writer Jessica Anderson. He’s also gearing up for Presidents Men, a long-awaited script that he’s eager to start production on in 2025.
For Andrei, filmmaking is more than just a job—it’s a labor of love. From the heartache of early failures to the thrill of international success, every project has been a learning experience. His love for acting, directing, and producing continues to drive him, and with each new film, he’s building on the skills and lessons learned from his past work.
The Filmmaker’s Perspective
Looking back on his career so far, Andrei doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the tough times. “The love for acting, directing, and producing is unbelievable—I do it from the heart,” he says. It’s this passion that has carried him through the low points, like the rocky start of No Leaf Clover, and that continues to fuel his ambition for the future.
As he looks forward to the release of Demon Fever and the many projects to come, one thing is clear: Andrei Sporea’s story is one of grit, determination, and a deep love for the art of filmmaking.
