The British Film Commission (BFC) and Italian Film Commissions (IFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Italian Pavilion during the 2022 Cannes Film Festival to enhance collaboration between the UK and Italian screen industries. The MoU will see the two institutions encourage greater exchange between the UK and Italy, fostering opportunities to work together, in order to build a framework of collaboration that will actively promote structures, industries and territories for both countries.
“The spirit behind the partnership is to build real opportunities to kickstart our industries, providing reciprocal collaboration in this moment of high vitality in production worldwide”, said Cristina Priarone, President of Italian Film Commissions, emphasizing how the IFC is keen to promote partnerships to foster international linking and that the partnership with the UK is an important starting point. “Building bridges with the UK is key in developing the best audio-visual products for travel between the two countries and, in general, internationally. The agreement is also a way to share best practices and support each other in promoting our territories. This way we can kickstart post-Covid recovery with renewed energy and intentions, aiming to open up new opportunities and exchanges for industry professionals and producers”. Work in progress and the first step in a collaborative relationship that will start at the next Focus London where IFC will be present.
“This agreement may be a starting point, but it is a very important one”, said Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of the British Film Commission, who pointed out that some of the most high-profile productions of the moment were shot in both counties such as: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part One (which shot in Norway), The Little Mermaid (shooting in Sardinia) and No Time To Die. “It provides advantages for our national industries, from both a creative and a commercial perspective. We look forward to working with our friends in Italy to foster even stronger ties between our two countries, exploring new ways of working together, creatively and commercially, in the future. The British screen industry is always looking for new opportunities to work together and Italy has fantastic creative talent, brilliant production opportunities and extraordinary locations”.