22/08/2006

Giving space to young filmmakers and quality films and improving services are some of the main goals of the renewed Cinecittà Holding, according to newly elected president Alessandro Battisti: "The first important meetings are in January, 2007, in Beijing and Shanghai". Battisti’s “to do” list is a long one: revitalise the National Film School; update Cinecittà with new technologies in order to fight competition from other countries; relinquish one part of the rights that the Holding has held for the past 20 years; safeguard the most prestigious auteur films; and modernise Filmitalia (the company that promotes Italian cinema abroad), giving it greater resources and allowing representatives of various institutions, companies, associations, regions and film commissions to become part of it.

For Battisti, it is furthermore necessary to sell Mediaport, the public cinema circuit: "Public cinemas must go back to being part of a system that does not follow the market and competition from private [factions]… We must have the highest-quality circuit, which gives priority to important films without wasting [money]. Mediaport has a deficit of €33m. We must curb this monthly loss of €500,000 immediately and invest in a series of small cinemas that show quality films without going after commercial titles".

In the meantime, Cinecittà is preparing to celebrate its 70s years in style. "The definitive programme for a series of events will be finalised in October", said Battisti.

However, the Holding’s first meetings will be with filmmakers, entrepreneurs and industry workers during the next Venice Film Festival, "to formulate, with professionals, a financial reform open to donations, as is the case in the Anglo-Saxon system. We will discuss this at Venice in a debate on cinema and politics", added Battisti.

(Translated from Italian)