That of Puglia, Lazio or Sicily. The regional commissions support films and TV series that should be set in the related areas. This is not always the case, not to mention certain securities … The contribution, however, is still guaranteed.
“To my signal, unleash hell.” His passion for cinema was already clear ten years ago. Were the times of the first election campaign for the Presidency of the Region. That quote made Michele Emiliano gain the subject nickname: “The gladiator”. Like Massimo Decimo Meridio, the Roman General played by Russell Crowe, even the Apulian governor has never escaped the duel. He is also bearded, archive and well placed. Vaguely recalls the American actor. However, that passion has it in the blood. Thus, he decided to transform the region into the cinema of cinema.
Apulia Film Commission is her sparkling Biga. Only last year he invested 13.2 million euros to finance the beauty of 64 works: 22 feature films, 18 shorts, 13 documentaries, seven animation projects, four television series. Ministry of Culture, dispassionate. Alessandro Giuli puts 91 million on the plate, to be shared throughout the nation? The Gladiator of Bari Vecchia relaunches with over 13 million, paid out only by Puglia. Does the minister try to dismantle left -wing dominance, made of generous contributions and ridiculous collections? The governor is praised by producers and directors for his foresight, fueled by rare generosity.
Yet, the substantial help of the regions are often assigned with bizarre criteria. It is financed by everything: from the lacapappost film to the Falegnami at high altitude series. The filming of dear cruel world have just begun, for example. Temporary synopsis: “black comedy with pop tones set in the late nineties”. It is one of the many works selected by Apulia Film Commission: it has received 316 thousand euros. Money intended, it is explained, to cover the expenses in the area: extras, rentals, locations. Even if the film is not set in Puglia. In fact, dear cruel world turns to Maremma. And then the film is produced by the sidelines. Among the members is Martina Lovascio, who also works for the Apulian Commission “in the evaluation process for regional funds”. A hypothetical conflict of interest, therefore. Very clear, even. Detailed on LinkedIn and in the curriculums found on the net.
Among the other projects financed in 2024 there is also the first work, as director, by Roberto Saviano: I am still alive. 498 thousand euros has grabbed. “It is the film with which I decided to bring back on the screen what I have experienced to date,” explains the writer Caserta. It is taken from the Graphic Novel of the same name, signed together with the Israeli cartoonist Asaf Hanuka. He therefore tells the life of a hero of the tricolor left: threatened and finished under escort after publishing Gomorrah. The animated film, which should be released next year, is obviously set in Campania. However, the decisive particular does not seem to have hindered the Apulian public participatory. However, he decided to contribute with almost half a million euros to the film of the omnipresent Saviano. It should be added to the help of the Natìa Region: another 149.6 thousand euros. Total remarkable: almost 647 thousand euros.
To stay on topic. Further 450 thousand euros were granted by Apulia Film Commission to the cases of the lawyer Guerrieri, personified on the screen by Alessandro Gassmann. The TV series is based on the books of another legend of national progressism: the former senator of the Democratic Party, Gianrico Carofiglio. While dating back to 2023 the 320 thousand euro loan for Palazzina Laf, which boasts Elio Germano as protagonist. That is: the actor became the symbol of the revolt against Giuli, supposed “responsible for the crisis of Italian cinema”. The help is added to the 200 thousand euros of “selective contributions” of the Ministry and one million obtained as tax credit. Total of the support received from Palazzina Laf: over 1.5 million. Well beyond the collections, stopped at just over a million.
It is the usual script of Italian cinema, held up by public money. The case of the film on the Ilva di Taranto, for which Michele Riondino won David di Donatello as the best actor, is almost the rule. To the state grants, the contributions of the Commission films are almost always added. Except that, in the case of the Regions, the logic of the concession no longer seems the alleged artistic value of films, documentaries and series. What matters, however, would be only the possible advertising for the territories and the use of local workers.
The Gladiator of Bari Vecchia is the most munificent. Before him, the unreachable was, however, Nicola Zingaretti: the former governor of Lazio, now the MEP of the Democratic Party, less virly nicknamed “er soap”. Twenty -three millions intended for the cause every year. Luca’s brother, the unforgettable commissioner Montalbano television, boasted: «We are the first region in Italy for investments in the cinema and the third in Europe! And do you know why it’s important? Because all this does not only mean supporting good cinema, but creating concrete opportunities for development and work in the area ». Not only that, unfortunately. In 2022, the Guardia di Finanza discovered that four production houses would collect public money with Farelocca documentation. A 700 thousand euro scam. Among the postponed to trial there is also the director Claudio Marini, already sentenced for sexual violence on nine aspiring actresses. He would have obtained illegal funds for Mandy’s secret.
In Sardinia, Court of Auditors and Prosecutor, instead, investigate the hole from one million euros. The national anti -corruption authority asked greater transparency to the regional commission film. Meanwhile, a temporary manager has been appointed: the regional official Matteo Friar, who, however, is an expert in school building. In Calabria, however, the president is Anton Giulio Grande, stylist of Lamezia Terme. The studios for television fiction will be born in the capital. In the meantime, “support for audiovisual productions” reaches 5.9 million euros.
More or less what Sicily allocates. Last year the contributions focused on a few and famous projects: such as the Leopard, who received one million. The miniseries aired on Netflix, inspired by the book by Giuseppe Tomasi of Lampedusa, did not enchant everyone. But it undoubtedly enhances the beauties of the island.
Among the films financed, however, there is also queer. The protagonist is Daniel Craig, famous for interpreting James Bond. The director is Luca Guadagnino, a renowned standard bearer of the most unbridled wokism. For this, he is often revered guest of Lilli Gruber at eight and a half. The last time he called Giorgia Meloni a “provincial”, “Trump’s mascot” and “of that group of men”. In short, the premier would be part “of an extreme right with tones that always express something left”. The scarcely patriotic director, therefore, repairs in his island.
From Sicily Film Commission has obtained 485 thousand euros. To which are added 17.8 million selighted by the State as Tax Credit. Queer is taken from the incomplete novel Checca, written by William S. Burroughs. A hallucinated journey between unusual drugs and lockers. The story is especially set in Mexico City. So what does Sicily have to do with it? Little or nothing. Some scenes were shot on the island, then duly disguised by Centrally America. Thus Kalsa became a market in the 1940s. While Selinunte turns into the rainforest. For the Palermo, Guadagnino no place is far away. Just get the right recognition.
