15/12/2008

Five years and €8.5m later, Cineporto, created by Turin Piedmont Film Commission with financing from the Piedmont Region and the City of Turin, has opened its doors. It offers the biggest and best equipped business centre in Europe, to domestic and foreign television and film companies choosing to film in Turin and the Piedmont region.

Inaugurated last Friday, the structure was built in the industrial complex of the former Colongo cotton mill (built in the early 20th century) and covers an area of 9,400 square metres, of which 6,400 are covered. Subdivided into five modules, the space allows for more than production at a time, with workshops created for costumes, production design, carpentry, props and laundry; warehouses of large furniture; casting rooms; a bar-restaurant; and 96-seat cinema for viewing daily rushes.

"Films will not be shot here, we offer offices and services," specified Film Commission President Stefano Della Casa, who added that it will cost €400m a year to run the site.

The 40 productions backed in 2008 in Piedmont and the related investments in the territory of over €25m confirm that Cineporto will be able to boost the local economy’s film sector, offering national and international productions the best logistic and organizational conditions.

Although just barely inaugurated, Cineporto has already been booked until June, for four television series; the upcoming film by Mario Martone, Noi Credevamo; and a feature based on Paolo Giordano’s bestseller The Solitude of Prime Numbers, the rights to which were bought by the Offside production company.

(Translated from Italian)