Italian Screens spotlights filmmaking opportunities

While Italy is best known among Chinese tourists for its cuisine, scenic landscapes and rich cultural heritage, the European nation is also positioning itself as an attractive destination for international film and television production.

On June 15, Italian Screens, an initiative aimed at expanding the global reach of Italian cinema, as well as promoting the country's incentives and tax credit policies for audiovisual productions, held a special event titled "Italy Offers Everything You Need" at the Italian Cultural Institute in Beijing.

Launched in 2022, Italian Screens has reached more than 20 countries and over 50 cities worldwide. Through film screenings, industry events and promotional activities, the project has showcased the creativity, vitality and achievements of contemporary Italian cinema to international audiences and industry professionals.

During the event, Federico Roberto Antonelli, cultural counselor of the Italian embassy in China and director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Beijing, and Roberto Stabile, head of the International Department at Cinecitta, discussed Italy's comprehensive support system for international audiovisual cooperation, covering project development, production and distribution.

Stabile highlighted the wide range of support available to foreign producers. "Whether it is a feature film, television series, documentary or animation project, corresponding support can be found in Italy," he said.

"We welcome Chinese film and television institutions to carry out shooting and production in Italy and make full use of the available funds, tax incentives and other supportive policies," he added.

Stabile also noted the significance of the film co-production agreement signed by China and Italy in February, saying it has created broader opportunities for industrial cooperation between the two countries.

"Between China and Italy, there are no walls, but many bridges," Stabile said. "In the past, we built many bridges for exchange and cooperation, and in the future, we will build even more."

Italian Screens has once again partnered with the ongoing 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, presenting nine acclaimed Italian films to Chinese audiences. The lineup includes the documentary The Passion of Anna Magnani, which explores the life and legacy of the legendary actress, and director Paolo Sorrentino's Grace, which follows a widowed Italian president confronting a series of moral dilemmas.