07/03/2003

23 productions, including films, TV dramas, documentaries, music videos and commercials have been based in Friuli Venezia Giulia between August 2000 and February 2003. Given these flattering results the Regional Administration and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Film Commission have been busy finding ways to further increase the presence of the audiovisual sector in the territory. This has lead to the creation of a regional audiovisual fund for the area. Following the example of film funds already active in other European countries, such as Holland, Ireland and Iceland, the Fund will make cash contributions available to those productions intending to shoot films or dramas in the region. These contributions range from a minimum of Euros1000 for a week long shoot to a maximum of Euros70.000 for a shoot of at least 7 weeks. In exchange for this assistance, the beneficiaries of the fund will be obliged to spend the equivalent of 300% (cinema and TV drama productions) or 150% (all other productions) of the contribution received in the region itself. Productions benefiting from the three largest contributions available will also have to employ at least 12 local professionals for the entire duration of their stay in the region. The third principal obligation regards the percentage of images shot in Friuli Venezia Giulia to be included in the edited film: these must amount to at least 70% of all the external location footage and at least 50% of the total footage of the film.

(Translated from Italian)