We are a small region in a big nation that has come along to the cradle of cinema to present itself.
We are doing it on tiptoe, with caution, but knowing we can count on a wonderful region.
We began our communication campaign at Mipcom in Cannes, then passed through MIA in Rome before arriving here.
We chose the bear as our image, which is similar to that of California, but which I believe best represents the character of the people of Abruzzo: kind and strong.”
With these words from the Councilor for economics, tourism, culture and entertainment at the Regione Abruzzo, Mauro Febbo, the nascent Abruzzo Film Commission made its debut in Hollywood with a special event organized on November 9 on the occasion of the American Film Market at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, in collaboration with ENIT, Los Angeles.

“We are proud to support Abruzzo’s efforts to expand from a famous and popular tourist destination to a rich and diversified theatrical location suitable for every type of production” declares Emanuela Boni, head of ENIT, Los Angeles.
Together with the general consul for Italy in Los Angeles, Silvia Chiave, Dom Serafini, editor of Video Age magazine, American by adoption but originally from Abruzzo, who devised the initiative and is the event coordinator, recalled that there are possibly more talents from Abruzzo in Hollywood than from the other Italian regions, from Madonna to Dean Martin, whose daughter, Deana Martin, will be a member of the Abruzzo Film Commission Advisory Board, together with the daughter of John Fante, Victoria, Angela Page, Francesco Panzieri, Gianluca Di Medio, Cristiano Donzelli, Nancy Fulton, Briella Tomasetti, Marc Provisiero and Andrew De Angelis.
It is no surprise that the first questions from the American professionals attending the event were directed towards the incentives available in the region.

“A support fund is being created but, in the meantime, it is still possible to access national tax incentives. Moreover, we are also carrying out work of a logistical nature involving a bureaucratic rationalization process with regional entities in order to prepare ourselves to offer productions a better reception” explains the head of the Film Commission, Francesco di Filippo.

The testimony of line producer Enzo Sisti is important: “Recently I filmed “The American”, with George Clooney, in Sulmona and Casteldelmonte and, before that, “Lady Hawke” in Roccacalascio. Abruzzo is a fantastic region, the people are tough but they have a big heart, I worked really well there and now we know it has a film commission it will be even better.”

Roberto Stabile, head of international rela- tions at ANICA [Italian Association of Cinematographic Audiovisual and Multimedia Industries] agrees: “I am sure that we will do a great job together with the Abruzzo Film Commission, and we will attract big productions.”