28/08/2007

By forging ahead and overturning all the rules, the Apulia Region has created the Apulia Film Commission, which from September 2007 will begin operating as both a film fund and film commission. According to Director Silvio Maselli, their goal is to “attract audiovisual production in Apulia and offer evolved, personalised services for professionals with extensive experience in the field, as well as emerging filmmakers”.

The AFC will attract productions through interesting financial initiatives as well as award initiatives aimed at training local talent. It is furthermore made up of the provinces and municipalities of Apulia, and will we managed in accordance with the Apulia Region, which has given the organism a €800,000 budget, part of which has already been allocated to eight local features, shorts and documentaries.

Maselli adds that the AFC will have to be “a call-up for local development”, from which it can be deduced that the presence of an Apulian producer will be fundamental. The move thus marks an attempt to development the audiovisual industry in Apulia, which until today has maintained itself more thanks to the talent of local directors than the presence of strong industry players in the region.

The AFC will hold a presentation at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, September 1 at the Filmmakers Villa.

(Translated from Italian)