29/04/2011

Elaborate exteriors, historical costumes, props, photographic and audio material are just some of the items the legendary Cinecittà studios are making available to the public in an exhibit that kicks off today.

Inaugurated last night by Oscar winner Roberto Benigni and running through November 30, Cinecittà Shows Off gives everyone the chance to enter one of the world’s most renowned studios, in Rome, and immerse themselves in all kinds of memorabilia, from Liz Taylor’s golden robe from Cleopatra and Sofia Loren’s heavenly dress from Questi fantasmi, to the papal vestments worn recently by Michel Piccoli in We Have a Pope [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nanni Moretti
film profile].

According to Cinecittà Studios president Luigi Abete, the exhibit is "a pilot project that will lead into a permanent film museum, which is a way to show the world what we do here every day".

"Cinecittà is thriving and productive,” he adds, "despite recent events that involved us by default, because of our name. [He refers to the problems plaguing Cinecittà Luce - see news.] We’ll have to work on attracting productions like some of the Italian regions, for example, Piedmont and Apulia, who are very competitive in bringing new projects to their territories".

"Cinecittà nevertheless remains Italy’s largest studio", concludes Abete, "and must be launched increasingly more on the international market to ensure protection from future crises". As proof of their good state, this summer the legendary studios will host, along with numerous television projects, the new films by Bernardo Bertolucci and Carlo Verdone and, if negotiations go well, Woody Allen.

(Translated from Italian)