In this issue we offer an account of the work being carried out by many Italian audiovisual professionals who, in various capacities, are involved in projects with their colleagues in other European countries.
Whilst the MEDIA Salles research (of which we have published a first part) confirms Europe as the main export market for the Italian films that cross the orders of our peninsula, news has arrived from Otranto where last September we followed the conference “Il cinema nella Regione Adriatico- Jonica: Territorio – Storie – Politiche”, that laid down the foundations for creating an Adriatic macro-region. The ambitious project involves Puglia, Albania, Greece, Montenegro, Emilia Romagna, Croatia and Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Moreover, in reporting on the working day that CED MEDIA Torino dedicated last September to the training proposals of Europa Creativa (formerly the MEDIA Program), it appeared evident that the professional growth of many operators, filmmakers and producers would not be possible without the “network” of Europe.
The Italian Film Commissions are diehard Europeans whose regional work creates favorable conditions (often making them the protagonists) for building “a bigger world” which is necessary for anyone working in audiovisuals: from training to project development to the realization of co-productions.
One good piece of news is that the Film Commissions’ periodic training session which, this year, will be hosted in Cinecittà’s Sala Fellini on 18 and 19 October, will be opened by the Minister for Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, Dario Franceschini, by the Minister for Education, Stefania Giannini and by the Under Secretary for Economic Development, Ivan Scalfarotto. This is an important sign because it proves the growing awareness that the Film Commissions – recognized in and defined by the new Cinema Bill currently being approved by Parliament – are working for culture and tourism, but also for economic development and training.
With regard to training, there is another piece of good news, the Film Commissions have been asked by the Ministry of Education to partner them in the training action plan focusing on cinema knowledge. Will this be another occasion to re-establish the European identity?