25/07/2005

The Italian film industry is very concerned about the recent decision of the Constitutional Court ruling against the 15 points of the Urbani decree which neglected the necessary prior consultation between the State and the regions (cf. news 7/19). The members of the Anica (which unites several unions of producers, distributors, and exhibitors) have just sent a letter to the Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to protest against this decision which creates 'a legal vacuum leading to the blocking or even the cancellation of many measures initiated by the operators of our sector.' Therefore, the Anica requests that an emergency decree should be made in order to correct this and allow some efficiency in the rules the Constitutional judges have just censured.

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The authors and independant producers of the API agree with this, asking the government to take the gravity of the situation into account and act rapidly: 'The decision of the Constitutional Court leads to the complete and immediate paralysis of the entire film industry (production, distribution, exhibition, promotion, cultural events, and festivals). Further more this paralysis follows two very difficult years for the sector, since all activities were put on hold to allow the transition from the old law to the new law. This new incident might be fatal to Italian cinema.'

As far as the Anec (National Association of Exhibitors) is concerned, its members fear the administration might stop functioning, which would seriously affect the whole sector. However, the Anec admits the Constitutional judges' decision was justified, since the regional authorities really must be consulted, expecially regarding the opening of big multiplexes of more than 1800 seats.

(Translated from Italian)