Independent producers: "Sure market rules"
"The Italian film market is becoming increasingly more closed. We are looking for sure rules to open it up towards high quality films". This is the cry of alarm launched by a group of independent producers and distributors during the presentation in Rome of the film cycle "Cinque pezzi facili" (see interview with Vieri Razzini of Teodora Film).
Tilde Corsi, Andrea Occhipinti, Domenico Procacci and Razzini denounced a market decline in the number of "quality, arthouse films that can get themselves noticed because, today, marketing costs must necessarily be enormous and a film must have a huge opening week box office or else exhibitors take it down immediately". The result? "Less variety and diversity and the subsequent impoverishment of cultural offerings".
Said Occhipinti: "We independent producers have a fundamental role, we are the ones who do more research, bringing new talent to cinemas, such as the Ozpeteks and Kaurismakis. But we are also the weakest link, as opposed to those who have the Telecoms and other industrial groups behind them, and we have a greater need for rules". Procacci added: "It would be enough if the already existing rules were applied, or to create others that would allow a product to seek out its own path in the market".
"The French understood", explained Tilde Corsi, "and have implemented a series of rules, which is why their film industry is now second in the world. We could just oblige all those who utilise our films (from old technologies to new ones, such as transmitting films on mobile phones) to pay the source, with a percentage tax based on their sales, as is done in France".
A highly important role is played by television broadcasters, who remain the greatest source of investment recovery. Unfortunately, they easily get around their obligation to program quality Italian and European films. "Our young people", added Occhipinti regretfully, "know no other cinematic language except the North American one". For Razzini, in fact, Italy must "recreate the habits of ‘good cinema’ through consistent programming not relegated to cultural niches but in accessible time slots".
"There is no real rule on the quotas in cinemas for multiplexes either" reminded Occhipinti, and Procacci emphasised a further problem: "Censorship. There is a discrepancy in how cultural films are treated that penalises them, because a film prohibited to minors under 14 earns 50% less and cannot be broadcast in prime time. One of my films was censured because of an act of fellatio that was barely hinted at, while the most recent 'Christmas family movie’ was a long series of sexual games".
The four producers hope that the new government has a "different attitude with respect to film and culture, and implements rules that broaden the market and are not punitive. Moreover, there already exist European regulations".
(Translated from Italian)
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