The “Tutti i numeri del cinema e dell’audiovisivo italiano – Anno 2022 (All the numbers of Italian cinema and audiovisual – 2022)" report was presented at the MIA-Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo. The meeting, moderated by Pedro Armocida, was attended by Lucia Borgonzoni, Undersecretary of Culture, Nicola Borrelli, Director General of Cinema and Audiovisual (DGCA) and Bruno Zambardino, EU Affairs and Institutional Coordination Italy for Movies - DGCA-MiC.
Now in its twelfth edition, the research for the report is produced by the DGCA - MiC Research Office and aims to describe the progress of the Italian cinema and audiovisual system. This year, the report outlines a comparison with 2021 but also with the pre-pandemic period, and produces a profile of the industry on both the production and the tax front. The four sections at the heart of the analysis are: Cinema Production, Audiovisual Production, International Tax Credit, Video Games Tax Credit.
The study shows a 2022 marked by the growth in the production of films and audiovisual works, with the tax credit instrument in an increasingly dominant position compared to other public investments. An instrument that is also popular abroad: there has been an increase in demand from international companies, for both cinema audiovisual productions. Films and works are more expensive overall. The number of women producing films and documentaries increased. The number of requests for tax credit for video games also increased.
“In light of the results of the study, which demonstrates the importance of public contributions for the cinema and audiovisual production sector, it is even more necessary to keep our attention high so that these funds push in the direction of an increasingly better quality of the works financed and the largest possibile distribution for them", commented Lucia Borgonzoni.
“The indicators of the study describe a year, 2022, leaving the pandemic months behind. But there is still important room for improvement. To this end, in recent months we have begun a constructive dialogue with all the operators in the Italian cinema system: focussing the discussion on the remodulation of the public investment system, with particular attention to tax credit. The numbers comfort us in many respects but some critical issues are evident which require a major review of all the support tools so that the entire system, starting from tax credits, is more effective" added Nicola Borrelli.
Main findings by section - 2022 Report
Cinema Production
- in 2022, 355 films were produced (+13.4% on 2021), exceeding pre-pandemic levels (325 in 2019). This number includes 253 films that are 100% Italian (147 fiction and 106 documentaries), and 63 co-productions for a total of 316 eligible Italian films, a 10.5% increase on 2021.
- The total cost of films produced exceeded €581 million (+17.5% on 2021).
- The largest share of national public investments is provided by tax credits: tax credits for production alone in 2022 were worth € 175.35 million (+29.8% on 2021).
- Increase in film production tax credit both in terms of the number of works (171) and of amount of credit requested (€ 165.28 million).
- Slight increase in number of female directors involved in film and documentary production.
Audiovisual production
- More than double the 2019 number of audiovisual works (TV and web) were produced in 2022: 230.Web works increased by 65.7% on 2021, television works by 37.6%.
- The total cost of audiovisual co-productions exceeded € 129 million (€ 47.66 million in 2021) thanks mainly to a contribution of foreign capital.
- In the breakdown of costs, the largest share of national public investments was provided by tax credit: tax credits for production alone in 2022 were worth € 239.55 million (+51.6% on 2021). The cost share of minority foreign producers increased greatly.
International Tax Credit
- In 2022, foreign cinematographic and audiovisual productions requested a total tax credit of € 338.45 million, generating a total investment of € 844.36 million.
- From 2016 to 2022, the total tax credit requested for films and audiovisual works amounted to €670.15 million, generating an investment over the 7 years of €1.869 billion.
- In 2022, 42 foreign film productions requested tax credit (18 in 2021) for a total of € 213.7 million.
- From 2016 to 2022, 157 films applied for international tax credit for a total of over € 360 million of credit requested with a total investment generated over the 7 years of € 998 million.
- In 2022, 33 audiovisual film productions requested tax credit (25 in 2021) for a total of € 124.8 million.
- From 2016 to 2022, 142 audiovisual works (TV and web) requested international tax credit, amounting to a total requested credit of almost €310 million generating an overall investment in 7 years of € 870.08 million.
Videogames Tax Credit
- In 2022, 37 videogames requested tax credit (28 in 2021) for a total requested credit of € 12.7 million (€5.06 million in 2021).
- The total investment from 2016 to 2022 generated from requests for tax credit is € 88 million (overall value of the investments generated by tax credit).