12/12/2003 - The head of the Italian film board has outlined a less than optimistic scenario: “limited results in the creation of a European cinema up until now”, in spite of the efforts of the MEDIA programme

A less than optimistic scenario of the European film industry has been given by the head of the Italian Film Board, Gianni Profita. He was speaking in Rome at the API (the Italian Filmmakers' & Producers' Association) conference “Il gusto degli altri”, looking at the relationship between cinema and television. Talking about Europe, Profita said that “the context isn’t very positive because, in the light of the upcoming enlargement with 10 new countries entering the EU, we’re noting a series of different approaches to cinema’s problems”. In particular, on the opportunities for public funding for the audiovisual system, Profita noted that “even if there’s a positive response in Italy, because we view cinema as something to safeguard in the cultural context and to pass on to future generations, it’s not a given that other countries feel the same”.

Regarding the creation of a European cinema, Profita believes that the results achieved up until now should be seen as “limited”, in spite of the efforts by the MEDIA programme, which he described as “Mature”. In addition, for technical reasons, it’s not been possible to extend the programme for a further year. Now the responsibility of lengthening the programme until 2007 will fall on Ireland, which is the next country to take the rotating EU presidency.