19/10/2010

In keeping with the work of recent months by Minister of Culture Sandro Bondi, who wants to pass legislation aimed at direct state support of only first and second films, shorts and documentaries, the Rome International Film Festival (October 28-November 5) has introduced a new prize, the Marc'Aurelio Debut Award.

Created in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, the €10,000 prize will go to an actor making his or his debut or a first film from among the 25 selected in the festival’s three sections.

The collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and the festival also continues in the 2010 edition of the New Cinema Network Lab, a series of events and discussions for 20 last-year students of the National Film School, part of the New Cinema Network .

Minister of Youth Giorgia Meloni further announced a series of initiatives that have emerged from an agreement with the Ministry of Culture’s General Direction for Cinema (GDC) to back films and screenplays submitted by young artists under the age of 35. The agreement includes €180,000, of which €150,000 will come from the Deparment of Youth to sustain top first and second film, and screenplays, and €30,000 from the GDC, through structures, staff and technical resources.

The Department of Youth and the GDC moreover have announced a screenplay competition for young writers under the age of 35. The five finalists will receive from the department a contribution of up to €10,000 to develop the screenplay.

(Translated from Italian)