The Italian Job : 70 professionals in Rome

by Fabien Lemercier

07/06/2005 - The cream of producers, distributors and sales people from the French film industry who make up the delegation led by Unifrance and the CNC will take part next Thursday and Friday at French-Italian First Film Encounters. Invited to Rome by Gaetano Blandini (director general for Cinema to the Italian minister of Culture), Carlo Fuscagni and Alessandro Usai (respectively president and director general of Cinecittà Holding), Adriana Chiesa (delegate general of AIP Filmitalia) and Luciano Sovena, (director general of the Institut Luce), more than 70 French professionals responded to the call.

Among the notable participants who will make the trip from France are the president of Unifrance Margaret Menegoz, Alain Rozanès (ADR Productions), Patrick Godeau (Alicéléo), Jean-François Lepetit (Flach Film and president of the Chamber of French Producers Unions), Cedomir Kolar (Asap), Philippe Carcassonne (Ciné B), Catherine Dussart (CDP), Yves Marmion (UGC), Eric Névé (La Chauve Souris), Laurent Pétin (ARP Sélection), Nicolas Eschbach (TF1), Patrick Sobelman (Agat Films), Anne-Dominique Toussaint (Les Films des Tournelles) plus Nathalie Bloch-Lainé (Canal +). But the delegation also includes, among others, representatives from Rezo Films, Wild Bunch, Celluloïd Dreams, Pathé, MK2, Pyramide, Cinétévé, Europa Corp., Pierre Grise Productions, as well as Raphaël Hadas-Lebel (president of the Commission for selective distribution aid at the CNC).

Several workshops allow the French and Italian to share their experiences. The subject of distribution will be covered by Philippe Godeau (Pan Européenne) and Stéphane Célérier (Mars) who will discuss the French releases of Respiro [trailer] by Emanuele Crialese and Cent pas by Marco Tullio Giordana, while their Italian counterparts Valerio De Paolis (BIM) and Roberto Cicutto (Mikado) will revisit the Italian distribution of 8 femmes [trailer], 5x2 [trailer], L'Homme du train [trailer] and La Fleur du mal. Friday will be dedicated to an analysis of the evolution of financing between the two countries with Rosanna Seregni (Sintra Film) and Marco Chimenz (Cattleya) among the Italian speakers. Lastly, a round-table discussion will concentrate on the role of television finance with representatives from France Télévisions, Canal +, Rai Cinema, Mediaset and Medusa Film.

(Translated from French)