26/11/2002

Our goal is to “strengthen and give more visibility to Italian cinema” and that is the main reason why Api, the Italian independent producers’ and filmmakers’ association, has joined the Italian entertainment umbrella association, Agis.
This is a significant move because Api members include some of the Italian film industry’s most important representatives like Roberto Benigni, Nanni Moretti, Gabriele Salvatores, Silvio Soldini, Giuseppe Piccioni, Marco Tullio Giordana and Mimmo Calopresti, as well as major production companies like Mikado, Lucky Red, Cattleya, Fandango, Sacher Film and Melampo Cinematografica.
Api president, Angelo Barbagallo feels that cooperation between filmmakers, writers, producers and exhibitors is vitally important “We joined Agis because we believe that unity is the only way to deal with the complexity of exhibition in the Italian film industry. It is important that exhibitors can rely on a strong domestic production industry, both in terms of numbers and quality, and as far as producers are concerned, it is essential for them to work together with a better informed and more proactive exhibition sector.”
The questions that require Api’s immediate attention are its relationship with Tv and “above all, Law 122 which determines investment quotas but whose terms have never been fully explained. These problems are only exacerbated by the negative knock-on effect of cuts in TV budgets.” Last but by no means least Api criticised the guidelines being drawn up about reforms to film legislation “that everyone wants to change even though the numerous suggestions made so far are all very vague.”
Api and Agis have organised two important events: an international conference about the circulation of European films in the EU entitled Other People’s Taste for 5 December, and a second conference about Coproducing in Italy on 6 December. Both events will take place in the Agis HQ in Rome.

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(Translated from Italian)