Now with us ! Barbara Nicoli and Leila casting directors

Barbara Nicoli & LeÏla Ananna are a casting power duo based between Paris and Milan.

Milan born Barbara Nicoli - recently named by WWD as one of the world’s five most influential casting directors - is one of the busiest professionals in her field. A regular casting director for Gucci, Burberry and Pucci, she has worked on countless campaigns, shows and editorial projects, collaborating with the likes of Emmanuelle Alt, Marie-Amelie Sauvé, Camilla Nickerson, Panos Yiapanis, George Cortina and Elliott Smedley. Barbara started her career almost by accident, in the early 1990s. A student job as a dresser during Milan Fashion Week triggered her interest in the behind-the-scenes of the fashion machine. After a stint as a casting assistant, her breakthrough came thanks to leading '90s designer Rifat Ozbek, of which she became a long term collaborator.

Following a a classical fashion education in Paris, Algiers born LeÏla joined a famous event agency, helping create shows for Dior, John Galliano and Viktor & Rolf. There, she met Casting Director John Pfeiffer, whom she credits as her mentor. Among her many projects is Fashion Rock - an event of unprecedented scale gathering 12 fashion houses from Valentino to Armani and Calvin Klein and a cast of 120 models.

Barbara and Leila are regular contributors to i.D., 10 Magazine, Dazed and Confused and Amica.