During the 81st edition of the Venice International Film Festival, the “Comitato Lavoratrici e Lavoratori del Cine Audiovisivo” (Workers’ Committee of the Cine-Audiovisual sector), which includes the main associations of film and audiovisual professionals in Italy, released an open letter addressed to the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, Undersecretary Lucia Borgonzoni, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The letter expresses strong opposition to the government’s recent reform proposals, highlighting a “worrying state of stagnation” that is affecting the entire production sector.
The letter, read during the “Stati Generali del Cinema Indipendente” meeting at the Italian Pavilion, was signed by numerous trade associations. These associations urgently reiterated the need for an in-depth analysis to adopt appropriate measures to prevent a further collapse of employment, particularly in the film production sector. The professionals denounced a significant decline in domestic production and the absence of an adequate welfare system, exacerbated by the postponement of the “Codice dello Spettacolo” and a decrease in foreign productions in Italy.
The letter also stresses the importance of “opening a constructive dialogue on the tax credit decrees,” highlighting how, in their current form, these would make it extremely difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to obtain the necessary funding for film production. An appeal is made to the government to take urgent action to safeguard Italian cinema, described as an integral part of the country’s identity and history. The letter warns that without immediate action, there is a risk of bringing the film sector back to a state of severe crisis.
READ THE FULL TEXT:
To the Minister,
Gennaro Sangiuliano
To the Undersecretary,
Hon. Lucia Borgonzoni
Cc: Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni
We are workers in the Italian cinema and audiovisual sector; we are artists, technicians, and professionals, and for months we have been raising awareness of the stagnation that affects the entire production sector. Following public demonstrations in Rome and other cities, and after our intervention at the Nastri d’Argento awards, we find ourselves here at the 81st Venice International Film Festival to represent the severe difficulties faced by the 250,000 workers in our sector. Many have been without work for months, with the postponement of the “Codice dello Spettacolo,” lack of income support, and inadequate welfare.
As things stand, the severe delays in reforming the so-called “Legge Cinema” have led to an almost complete halt in domestic production, which, beyond causing financial damage to the state, is also depleting the savings of individual sector operators. These delays have also greatly discouraged foreign production companies, creating uncertainty about the Italian system, leading them to choose other destinations for their productions in 2024. This has resulted in a further loss of employment opportunities for Italian workers and technicians.
In light of this evident market contraction, we wonder whether the recently disclosed legislative measures that the Ministry of Culture intends to adopt are sufficient to guarantee and protect our activities, which are characterized by atypical and discontinuous work patterns. We ask how this government intends to safeguard the history, present, and future of Italian culture, of which cinema is a flagship. For this reason, we strongly reiterate our request for an urgent and thorough analysis to implement all necessary measures to prevent a collapse in employment, particularly in the film production sector.
We believe that to avoid a deep crisis in Italian cinema, it is essential to open a constructive dialogue on the tax credit decrees. As currently conceived, these would make it almost impossible for small and medium-sized enterprises to obtain the necessary funding to produce a film. This situation, in addition to threatening employment levels, will, in most cases, result in the failure and closure of some companies that have, until now, provided opportunities for our young talents to debut, express themselves, and experiment with new languages.
“Through cinema, we will remember the world,” said Bernardo Bertolucci; cinema is our identity, our history, and we will not allow it to return to Year Zero.
SIGNED COMITATO LAVORATRICI E LAVORATORI DEL CINE-AUDIOVISIVO
AFS – Autori della Fotografia di Scena
AGI SPETTACOLO – Associazione Generici Italiani
AIARSE – Associazione Italiana Aiuto Registi Segretarie di Edizione
AIR3 – Associazione Italiana Registi
AITR – Associazione Italiana Tecnici di Ripresa
AITS – Associazione Italiana Tecnici del Suono
APAI – Associazione del Personale di Produzione Audiovisivo Italiano
APCI – Associazione Pittori e Decoratori del Cinema
ASC – Associazione Italiana Scenografi, Costumisti e Arredatori
CCS – Collettivo Chiaroscuro
CACAO – Comparto Audiovisivo e Cinema auto organizzato Puglia
EMIC – Associazione Nazionale Elettricisti e Macchinisti Italiani
LCS – Lavoratori del Cinema Sicilia
MUJERES NEL CINEMA – Associazione di donne nel cinema e nell’industria dell’audiovisivo
RAAI – Registro Attrici Attori Italiani
RCT – Rete Cinema Torino
RMCFVG – Rete Maestranze del Cinema Friuli Venezia Giulia
RCSB – Rete Cinema Sociale Basilicata
SIAMOAITITOLIDICODA
UICD – Unione Italiana Casting Directors
UNITA – Unione Nazionale Interpreti Teatro e Audiovisivo
