The panel entitled “How to get Italy on Board”, held at the MIA-Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo in Rome, illustrated what Italy offers potential international partners in terms of state support, tax breaks for international co-productions, regional financing, information on how to find Italian partners and international business opportunities. Organized by Roberto Stabile (Advisor for International Relations and Head of Special Projects, DGCA-MiC at Cinecittà) and moderated by Bruno Zambardino (DGCA), the panel saw the participation of Iole Giannattasio (DGCA), Luigi D’Aprea and Alessandra Rainaldi (Italian Trade Agency – Agenzia ICE) and Cristina Priarone (Italian Film Commissions).
Iole Giannattasio introduced the system that facilitates collaboration between Italian and foreign professionals: as is well known, the system was established with the cinema and audiovisual law of 2016 (Law 220/2016) and, since then, has seen the budget for audiovisual support grow to reach the €750 million annual minimum of today. The system is articulated across three pillars: selective grants, tax credits and automatic contributions. The selective grants cover various areas (writing, development, production, etc.) and were created for projects in particular need of state assistance who compete to obtain funding. Tax credits, whose quota of 40% per film (30-40% for audiovisual works) is one of the most competitive in Europe, offer businesses compensation for fiscal debts calculated automatically on the base of actual expenses. Automatic contributions see companies accrue support on the basis of objective criteria such as the artistic, economic or cultural results obtained in previous years from produced/distributed works. In all cases, co-productions are awarded additional points. Meanwhile, a €5 million fund has been created especially for minority co-productions: this has had growing success (e.g., Italian minority co-productions presented at Eurimages have increased from 8 in 2018 to 28 this year) since its launch in 2019 and, through two annual sessions, finances co-productions involving Italian companies with a minimum quota of 20% (bilateral) or 10% (multilateral), with the proviso that 80% of the grant – which may reach up to €300k – is to be spent in Italy or on using Italian companies/professionals. State grants also provide assistance for international distribution through support for local distributors and the presence of Italian producers and sales agents at global markets and workshops.
Cristina Priarone described the strategic role that the 20 film commissions, distributed across the country and gathered together in the Italian Film Commissions association (IFC), play on the ground. The huge variety of Italy’s territory is further reflected in the specific opportunities for regional financing on offer, now amounting to approx. €52 million overall, which are available for foreign productions and co-productions who, thanks to the close collaboration of the film commissions, find it much easier to work across different regions than in the past. Italian Film Commissions works with national institutes and industry associations (DGCA, Ita, Enit) and also with private companies like Netflix who entrusted IFC with the management of a €1 million fund made available for industry professionals during the pandemic.
IFC works with the Directorate General of Cinema and Audiovisual (DGCA) to harmonize regional grants, to facilitate access to Italy’s cultural heritage for productions and to internationalize industry activities. Present at the principal international festivals and markets with networking activities such as Cappuccino with the Italians, IFC is working on several key issues such as greening. Summing up, Priarone identified issues that require bolstering to further strengthen the sector, such as professional training and creativity, while also noting the excellent ability for finding swift solutions to challenges, such as the implementation of the anti-Covid protocol which allowed productions to return swiftly to their sets immediately after lockdown.
Luigi D’Aprea (ITA Head Office, Agency ICE) outlined the work of the Italian Trade Agency in facilitating the presence of Italy’s audiovisual industry (which includes animation and videogames) at international festivals and film markets. The offices in Rome and Milan and the 79 outlets around the world both assist Italian companies in understanding the opportunities available abroad and also facilitate investment in Italy from foreign audiovisual companies, working alongside the film commissions. Aprea cited the positive indirect effect of the audiovisual system on other sectors of the country: the Made in Italy brand is exported worldwide through cinema and audiovisual works. The work of ICE did not stop during the pandemic when it guaranteed hybrid participation in international events.
Alessandra Rainaldi (Trade Commissioner Los Angeles office, Agency ICE) focused specifically on activity in the ICE audiovisual sector, essential for creating a bridge between the industries in Italy and Hollywood. In reiterating the importance of promoting Italy in this sector, she noted that the American film industry, the world’s biggest, is worth $7billion and 50% of films are produced in Hollywood. The agency’s activity is concentrated in three pillars: monitoring of market opportunities and relevant communication to players in Italy; a promotional programme which is articulated in the organization of multiple events (e.g. the American Film Market in Santa Monica) which feature the participation of Italian companies and film commissions; and consultancy and assistance which is based on the awareness that the great demand to work in Italy is not simply about looking for locations and that it is necessary to facilitate access to the system of fiscal incentives and facilities available in the country. Rainaldi noted a new communication tool launched this year: the monthly newsletter - Italy meets Hollywood - supplies news, events and important information about relevant themes for the audiovisual market. From next month onwards, it will also be available as a website with a “market place” section offering a place where professionals from both countries can meet.
Italy for Movies, Italy’s bi-lingual portal for locations and production incentives commissioned by the Ministry of Culture and managed by Cinecittà, was presented by Bruno Zambardino. The portal (and app) provides every useful information for Italian and foreign industry professionals for shooting in Italy along with a guide to the incentives on offer, a location database and search engine, a map of locations used for films and TV series and a constantly updated news section.