10/11/2003 - During a visit to the Milanese market, the Italian minister announces the timing of the new cinema law. January should also see the start of the joint venture between Fiera Milano, the Venice Biennale and Cinecittà

The legal bill including the new cinema law will be approved by December or, at the beginning of 2004. Today’s statement was made by Giuliano Urbani, the Italian culture minister who was visiting MIFED in Milan. After appropriate modifications, also following requests from associations operating in the sector, the law will go back to the council of ministers for definitive approval.

The managing director of Cinecittà Holding, Ubaldo Livolsi, who was also at MIFED, announced that the joint venture between Fiera Milano Ltd, the Venice Biennale and Cinecittà Holding will start from January 1, 2004. The aim is to “create a system” to strengthen the structures in the fact of international competition. “Up until now there’s been a signed letter of intent to create this company and to merge resources. We want to put up a really strong response to the aggressive show the international competition is putting on in the market". The work done by the present agency in charge of promoting Italian films abroad, Italia Cinema, which is currently controlled by Cinecittà Holding, will be absorbed into the new structure, "to improve its efficiency and effectiveness, also thanks to the increase in available resources" said Livolsi.

(Translated from Italian)