30/10/2002 - The producer of the Oscar-winning Mediterraneo and many of Benigni's films is arrested for fraudulent bankruptcy

Italian film producer, Vittorio Cecchi Gori was placed under house arrest after being charged with the fraudulent bankruptcy of the Fiorentina Soccer Club that he used to own. Cecchi Gori is accused of having misappropriated Lire 70 billion (Euros 36 million) from Fiorentina’s coffers to fill a hole in Finmavi, the gruppo Cecchi Gori Group’s finance company.
Numerous films produced by Cecchi Gori may now never see the light of day after his creditors blocked the company’s activities. They include Paolo Virzì’s My Name is Tanino, Sergio Rubini’s L’anima gemella - both of which were presented out of competition at this year’s Venice Film Festival, as well as the latest film by French director, Claude Lelouch entitled And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen, first seen in Cannes.

(Translated from Italian)