08/03/2006

Several months after it was announced, (see 24/11/05 news), the Lazio Region’s substantial intervention in the film industry has become law, with the creation of a unified Film Commission for Rome and Lazio.

"Lazio will have new funds at its disposal, as well as important new legal, economic, financial and organisational instruments, in order to set off its vast cultural heritage and promote the territory and its resources". Thus, the Region’s Councillor of Culture, Entertainment and Sport, Giulia Rodano announced the Regional Council’s approval of financial articles that regard the industry.

Rodano added: "In the next three years, the Lazio Region will invest €10m annually in this field. The new regional Film Commission, which will unify similar structures of the Province and the city of Rome, will soon become an important instrument for territorial marketing, aimed at promoting film and audiovisual production within our region".

€500m have been allocated for the Film Commission for 2006. Even distribution has been regulated by “a kind of regulating plan for Lazio’s big screens”. The Council also approved the allocation of regional funds for an advance VAT return, so as to stimulate film production with the territory.

At the Berlin Film Festival, Rodano met with representatives of Film Commissions from Madrid, Ile-de-France and the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, with the intent to "create a European network to promote co-productions and support distribution, creating a market on our continent and, possibly, even beyond". The initiative, driven by Cinecittà Holding, will continue through meetings at Cannes and Rome.

(Translated from Italian)