The Cinema and Audiovisual sector is governed by various regulations and by various institutes. The Ministry of Culture, through the Directorate General for Film and Audiovisual, carries out support activities both for film production, distribution and dissemination, supporting institutions, enterprises, cinemas and festivals throughout the national and international territory. Many regional administrations have specific policies that are usually developed by regional Film Commissions. Specific support is given to Cinecittà Studios and the Venice Biennale International Cinema Festival as well as the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia – National Film School.
A central role in Italian film production is played by public and private television broadcasters and special attention is dedicated to film production by RAI with a specific Business Unit called Rai Cinema. Technologies are transforming the production and distribution of audiovisual products and in Italy the development of new distribution channels connected with new technologies are increasing. At the same time new production and dramaturgical methods offered by new technologies are being experimented by producers and dramaturgs.
During the Covid-19 health emergency, specific projects were initiated for the dissemination of Italian audiovisual culture through a private public platform called ITsArt[1]. Other web platforms have embarked on a repositioning path by working in collaboration with film distribution houses and festivals across the country. The film sector has also seen a transformation with initiatives that have brought the public closer to quality films and at the same time have allowed the development of new forms of enjoyment.
The audiovisual sector also benefits from indirect support through the Tax Credit system (see chapter 2.5.3). The debate that has arisen in recent months focuses on new technologies such as those of Virtual Reality (VR) also thanks to the surge in purchases of 3D visors generated during the lockdown. VR production experiences are taking place all over the country and festivals dedicated to these types of audiovisual products are becoming more numerous.
One of the sectors in which Italy is acquiring relevant skills is animation, which is acquiring more and more spectators and investment as well as skills in both narrative and production terms. The interest in this production segment is growing and sees more and more national and international institutional and private organizations, from Rai to Netflix, working with small production companies that now have international reference markets.
Radio and television are undergoing a profound process of change also due to the new distribution methods linked to the web and linked to new devices.
The videogame sector is witnessing rapid development in Italy as well, thanks both to virtual gaming platforms and to the production capacities that exist in the country. The videogames segment in Italy also deals with gamification and the use of cultural assets and activities, also through specific funding programmes in some Italian regions.
[1] https://www.itsart.tv/it/
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