Consulting the website of the Film Commission d’Abruzzo (filmcommission.regione.abruzzo.it) we discover that some scenes of “The new Pope” by Paolo Sorrentino which we will soon be seeing on the small screen, were filmed in the hermitage of Santo Spirito, on the Majella; this same location was chosen, together with Roccascalegna, for another hit series, “The name of the rose”.

Matteo Garrone set the fabulous king’s castle in “Tale of tales” here as well. Abruzzo has lent its scenarios to over 100 films, some of which have gone down in the history of Italian cinema, starting with “La strada” by Federico Fellini, the screenplay of which was written by a great son of Abruzzo: Ennio Flaiano, one of the biggest intellectuals of the 1900s who, through his long association with Fellini (he also wrote the script for “La Dolce Vita” and “81⁄2”), represented his bright vision of contemporaneity in the world of cinema as well.

The list of movies filmed in Abruzzo continues with “Francesco” and “Milarepa” by Liliana Cavani who recreated the atmospheres of Tibet in Campo Imperatore “Night sun” by the Taviani brothers, “Fontamara” by Carlo Lizzani, “Dearest relatives, poisonous relations” by Mario Monicelli and “That’s life” with Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo.
“L’orizzonte degli eventi” by Daniele Vicari was filmed in an exceptional location: the laboratories of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, in the bowels of the Gran Sasso.
Then there are the international successes like “Lady Hawk” with Michelle Pfeiffer filmed within the walls of the Rocca di Calascio and, more recently, “The American” with George Clooney, was shot around Castel del Monte and Sulmona.

Cultural activity is also very much alive in Abruzzo with a series of events, festivals and celebrations spread throughout the region including the Premio Flaiano in Pescara, the “Gianni Di Venanzo” International Theatrical Photography Award in Teramo, the Sulmona Film Festival, the Festival del Cinema Vasto and the L’Aquila Film Festival.
L’Aquila also vaunts a branch office of Rome’s Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia and the lengthy experience of the Accademia dell’Immagine.