09/02/2005 - New names, unusual coproductions: the Italians present in Berlin are strikingly original. It is no coincidence if italian cinema is represented this year in the competition by a young director, Stefano Mordini, with Provincia meccanica

New names, unusual coproductions: the Italians present in Berlin are strikingly original. This greatly pleases Dieter Kosslick, director of the festival, as he revealed in CinecittàNews: 'The beautiful thing with Italian cinema is that every year, it is different and new. In my eyes, Italian cinema is strong, committed, and fascinating as ever.' It is no coincidence if it is represented this year in the competition by a young director, Stefano Mordini, with Provincia meccanica. "However - adds Kosslick - we also selected the work of a more famous film-maker, Ermanno Olmi, a film he co-directed with Ken Loach and Abbas Kiarostami, Tickets, produced by Domenico Procacci, a great producer and a good friend of ours. Many Italian producers work in collaboration with European or international companies. Terry George's Hotel Rwanda, for instance, was coproduced by Mikado, while Alexander Sukorov's Solnze involved Rai Cinema and Downtown Pictures, Bologna. There is in fact quite a big Italian bunch attending the Berlinale this year. For we also decided to include Deserto rosso, in a series of special screenings, as a tribute to the famous picture director Carlo Di Palma; Panorama will show La vita che vorrei by Giuseppe Piccioni, and the Kinderfilmfest will present Saimir by Francesco Munzi. Besides, the cycle entitled "Settings Locations Scenes. Production Design + Film", dedicated to art direction, includes three Italian films. Finally, we are particularly proud to have as a guest star for the art direction cycle and for the Berlinale Talent Campus the great Dante Ferretti".

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Concerning film industry, this year Italy is bringing two major representants and partners to the European Film Market: ANICA, an association which represents the Italian film industry as a whole, and Audiovisual Industry Promotion, a company dedicated to promoting Italian cinema abroad. This with the help of the Ministry of Culture, cinema section.
"Stand Italia" will welcome all the Italian participants to the festival. Its aim is also to allow Italian films greater visibility and thus attract international buyers.
The pavillon ANICA-AIP has been entirely reshaped since the last festival. It now covers 130sqm and offers private offices to eight of the biggest Italian companies specialised in the international marketing of national audiovisual products (Adriana Chiesa Enterprises, FilmExport Group, Intramovies, Minerva Pictures, Movietime, Rai Trade, Surf Film, Variety Communications), and a large service area open to all the Italian companies present in Berlin.
Some of the services provided are, reception by a trilingual staff, bar&lounge run by the Torino Piemonte Film Commission, 4 internet points with fast connection, 3 moveable video apparatus to view DVD and VHS, giant screen showing images of the Italian films in competition or present at the market, big boards for adverts and information about all the screenings scheduled in the festival and the market.
As always, the Italy pavillion is also open to journalists wanting to meet Italian participants in the festival or the market.

(Translated from Italian)