13/06/2007

Over 49 million admissions were registered in Italy during the first five months of 2007, an increase of 6.74% over 2006 and 22.14% over 2005. This translates to a box office gross of €293m from January-May, up 7.4% with respect to 2006.

The exhibitors associations ANEC and ANEM, along with the producers and distributors of ANICA, state they are very satisfied with the Cinetel data they presented today during "Giornata Professionale Estate 2007" and announced a true turning point in distribution strategies: the extension of the film season throughout the entire summer period, with the releases of blockbusters and (several) quality films.

Moreover, the growth of Italian cinema is impressive: 17.2 million admissions (including co-productions), for a market share of 35.03%. The most-seen domestic films include Manual of Love 2 [+see also:
trailer
film profile], in first place (well before Spider-Man 3), Ho voglia di te [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Night Before Exams [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Il 7 e l'8 [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

Co-productions with other countries rose seven percent, while the UK (primarily due to Casino Royale and Mr. Bean's Holiday), France, Germany and Spain top the European countries whose films are seen by Italian cinemagoers.

ANEM President Carlo Bernaschi predicts that, as a result of the long summer wave, this positive trend should rise from 7.4 to 15%.

Too bad that not a single Italian film is scheduled to be released. For Paolo Pozzi, president of ANICA distributors, ‘‘the problem is that US blockbusters record the same results even during the summer months. For Italian films, we need someone to take the first step. Perhaps a blockbuster comedy, such as those starring Christian De Sica, could attempt a successful summer release”.

(Translated from Italian)