18/11/2005

Film festivals, which represent a fundamental event for the promotion and diffusion of cinematic and audiovisual culture, traditionally draw on a complex financing system that includes, along with private sponsors (usually service providers), local, regional and state agencies.

In Italy, the competence of festivals is progressively being passed to regional governments, whose available resources, however, have not been correspondingly increased. It is therefore important to understand which role will effectively be taken by the regions and which by the state. This is precisely the goal of a convention organised by AFIC (Association of Italian Film Festivals), which begins today at 5 pm at Turin's Cinema Romano, on the subject of regional financing with respect to funds allocated by the state.

A series of discussions are scheduled throughout the convention and will offer analyses on the situation in the major European countries (in particular, France, Germany and Spain), the prospects of the EU programmes, the Italian situation, as well as the ways in which private sponsors can become involved. The overall goal of is to propose the most efficient model, using the same available capital, capable of taking into account the various contributions and the level of operating efficiency of the individual festival within the general system.

Scheduled speakers include Gaetano Blandini, General Cinema Director; Alain Modot, Media Programme expert; Gabriele Röthemeyer, Director of MFG Baden-Wurttemberg Fund; Patrice Vivancos, Director of the Valencia Film Commission; Giorgio Fossati of the Piedmont Film Commission; and Dario Disegni of the Compagnia di San Paolo.

For more information, please write to info@aficfestival.it

(Translated from Italian)