Culture industry at risk, artists protest state budget cuts
The films produced next year with a contribution of public monies could be less than 15 as a result of the cuts to the Fondo Unico per lo Spettacolo (Entertainment Industry Fund) enacted by the 2009 Budget Law. There will be €82m less in available funds – from the €460m of 2008 to €378m in 2009 – for sectors that include cinema, theatre, opera and dance.
Subsequently, directors, producers, exhibitors, theatre workers and technicians decided to protest before Parliament yesterday, in an attempt to block the government’s budget cuts, at a moment when laws on the tax credit and tax shelter for arthouse cinema have finally been implemented.
There were black balloons as a sign of mourning and numerous famous faces: directors Paolo Virzì, Carlo Vanzina, Nanni Moretti, Carlo Lizzani, Mario Monicelli and Giuliano Montaldo and actors Carlo Verdone, Massimo Ghini, Luca Zingaretti, Alba Rohrwacher and Valentina Lodovini, among others.
Immediately before the protest, a delegation of entertainment industry representatives went to Palazzo Chigi to meet with Undersecretary to the Prime Minister, Gianni Letta.
"For now, there seems to be no possibility of the government reintegrating the Fondo Unico per lo Spettacolo, so we must use other forms of fighting and protesting,” said screenwriter Andrea Purgatori, speaking for the 100 Autori association.
One proposal put forth is to block the Venice Film Festival press conference, scheduled for July 30. They have moreover invited Italian directors – including Giuseppe Tornatore and Michele Placido and Francesca Comencini – to not present their films on the Lido. Not everyone agrees with boycotting the festival, however.
(Translated from Italian)
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