An increasingly large proportion of the South is being used for film sets.
Apulia has become a particularly well-loved land of film as of late: since 2007, the year in which the Apulia Film Commission was founded, €15.5 million has gone into funding 314 productions, 500 if you count short films and adverts. There are 1,200 professionals operating in the region (not counting extras). The Film Commission, which manages no fewer than three cineports, is currently involved in 5 projects being filmed in the region. It is estimated that to date the Film Commission has turned over €62.3 million, almost four times the amount it has invested.
Furthermore, the boost in the number of tourists to the area of Ragusa in recent years is almost certainly down (in part) to the many episodes of Inspector Montalbano that have made this corner of Sicily known to the rest of Italy and the entire world. Other productions, many of which are international, have also opted for the wild and picturesque landscapes of the island, with the Department for Tourism recently launching the ‘Strade del cinema’ project, which is aimed at promoting places in Sicily made famous through film. The Region, which is aware that film is an extraordinary vehicle for promotion, has set aside approximately €2 million to fund 17 documentaries and 11 feature films, which will be filmed on the island.
Basilicata is instead, to date, the region that has funded the second highest number of short films (after Lazio) in Italy. Through its ‘Bando alla crisi’ project, established in 2013, nine new film production companies have thus far been set up in the region. Looking to the future, in addition to renewing the Lu-Ca project (in partnership with Calabria), an agreement with Bollywood will bring 10 productions to the region over the next three years (three per year). A new call for applications is also in the pipeline for the funding of short films.
Last but not least, the film industry has also turned its attention to Calabria: since the success of A Ciambra at Cannes (one of the films that could make its way to Los Angeles for the next Oscars) and short film The Millionairs, which was awarded at Venice, the region has been building in confidence. Following the renewal of the Lu-Ca memorandum of understanding with Basilicata, the entries for the ‘Production Call for Applications’ are currently being assessed, with €600,000 due to be granted to the best of the 50 projects submitted. Looking to the future, the Calabria Film Commission hopes to increase the amount of funding available as part of a three-year programme, and has its sights set on Matteo Garrone’s new production of Pinocchio.
Campania recently launched a call for applications offering €5 million in funding through a law supported by the industry that finally puts forward a strong vision for the entire sector. Since 2005 the Campania Film Commission Foundation has supported 700 projects, 100 of which in 2016 alone, confirming that the sector is once again on the rise after five rather difficult years owing to a lack of resources.