19/01/2009

Paolo Protti, president of ANEC, anticipated the definitive 2008 ANICA data during the festival “Per il Cinema Italiano”, held in Bari from January 12-17.

The market share of Italian cinema rose from 27% in 2007 to 28% in 2008 (and was 20% in 2006), without taking into consideration co-productions. This positive trend is not reflected, however, in audience figures: admissions dropped from 104 million (2007) to 100 million in 2008 (92 million in 2006).

An Italian film (Natale a Rio) was the top slot of the of box office charts - a domestic title was number two at the end of 2007 - while 16 domestic films appear among the top 50 films of the 2008 box office (compared to 15 in 2007 and only 11 in 2006).

“We’re hoping for a 2009 with even stronger Italian product,” said Protti. “We must increase the share of national films. Not just commercial films but also arthouse films, such as 2008's Gomorrah [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Domenico Procacci
interview: Jean Labadie
interview: Matteo Garrone
film profile], Il Divo [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nicola Giuliano
interview: Paolo Sorrentino
interview: Philippe Desandre
film profile], Quiet Chaos [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Antonello Grimaldi
interview: Domenico Procacci
film profile] and Tutta la vita davanti [+see also:
trailer
film profile]”.

(Translated from Italian)