British Film Commission and Italian Film Commissions sign Memorandum of Understanding, strengthening collaboration between the UK and Italian screen industries

Today (20 May 2022) the British Film Commission (BFC) and the Italian Film Commissions (IFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration between the UK and Italian screen industries, as well as to facilitate film and high-end television production between the two countries.

The UK and Italy are both recognised as leading global production centres for film and high-end TV production, and as the screen industries continue to boom globally, both countries continue to attract major productions through reliable tax incentives, world-class crew and infrastructure and a diverse range of unique locations.

Some of the world’s biggest film and high-end TV titles have been shot across both jurisdictions, with recent examples including Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part One (Paramount Pictures/Skydance Productions/Bad Robot), filmed across the UK, Italy as well as Norway, Indiana Jones 5 (Lucasfilm/Amblin/Paramount Pictures), which was filmed throughout the UK’s nations and regions and in Southern Italy, The Little Mermaid (Walt Disney Pictures), filmed in the UK and Sardinia, No Time To Die (Universal Pictures), Pinocchio (Disney+), The Beautiful Game (Netflix/Blueprint), Around the World in 80 Days (PBS/Federation Entertainment/Slim Film + Television) and more.

The MoU will see the two film commissions encourage greater creative, commercial and cultural exchange between the UK and Italy whilst working together to actively foster opportunities to support inward investment for film and high-end television production in both territories. The MoU will not only strengthen the existing collaboration between the two commissions, but also the relationship between the network of regional organisations and partners in both territories, with which both commissions work so closely. This agreement further highlights the film commissions’ commitment to delivering a frictionless and film-friendly service which supports productions working across both territories.

The agreement was signed today (20 May 2022) at The Italian Pavilion, Le Majestic Hotel 10, Cannes.

Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of the British Film Commission, said: “We are thrilled to build upon our excellent relationship with the Italian Film Commissions through this friendship agreement. Globally, we’ve seen a huge increase in the amount of film and high-end TV production commissioned in recent years. It’s genuinely an extremely exciting time for the screen industries with opportunities for all growing. Strong collaborative European relationships such as the one between the UK and Italy are key to our shared success. There are already some brilliant examples of collaboration with high-profile productions being filmed between Italy and the UK, including Paramount Picture’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part One, Disney+’s Pinocchio and Universal’s No Time To Die. We look forward to working with our friends in Italy to foster even stronger ties between our two countries, exploring new ways of working together, creatively and commercially, in the future.”

Cristina Priarone, President of IFC Italian Film Commissions, said: “In this moment of high vitality worldwide in production, our IFC Association is keen in promoting partnerships to foster international linking. Building bridges with the UK is a key point on this issue, and the wise work of British Film Commission in the MoU framework paves the way for Italian producers and professionals to strengthen their relationships with the British AV industry, with the aim to open up new chances and exchanges.”

The BFC and IFC will come together in Cannes at the UK Pavilion for Nowhere Special: Collaboration and Co-Production Cross-Border Featuring Pasolini, Italy and the UK, for a fireside chat discussing filming in Northern Ireland for recent production Nowhere Special, and the benefits of cross-border co-production, as well as collaboration between international film commissions, for local industries, talent and tourism. The panel takes place on Tuesday 24 May at 11am.

–ENDS—

For further press information about the British Film Commission, please contact:

Haylie Read, Head of PR & Marketing, British Film Commission
E: haylie.read@britishfilmcommission.org.uk
M: +44 (0)7787 254 250

For further press information about the Italian Film Commissions, please contact:

Tina Bianchi
E: info@italianfilmcommissions.it
M: +393464968920

Notes to Editors:

About the British Film Commission:

The British Film Commission (BFC) is the UK Government’s national organisation responsible for international film and television production in the UK. Funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for International Trade and the BFI, the BFC leads on:

• Maximising and supporting the production of major international feature film and high-end television in the UK;
• Strengthening and promoting the UK’s film and television infrastructure;
• Liaising between the Government and the film and television industry on policy issues that impact on production.

With offices in the UK and the US, the BFC provides free tailored production support at the highest level, from the earliest stages of development through to post-production, including guidance on the UK’s lucrative film and television tax reliefs and assistance with sourcing key crew, talent, facilities and locations.

The BFC has industry sponsors who form the membership of the agency’s innovative public/private partnership: Angels Costumes, Bray Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, Harbottle & Lewis, HBO, Movie Makers, Netflix, Pinewood Studios, Saffery Champness, Warner Bros., 3 Mills Studios, BBC Studios, DNEG, Elstree Studios, First Stage Studios, Framestore, MPC, The Bottle Yard Studios and Working Title.

The BFC is the national division of Film London.

www.britishfilmcommission.org.uk

Twitter: @FilmInUK_BFC

LinkedIn: British Film Commission

About the Italian Film Commissions

The Italian Film Commissions associates 20 Film Commissions located all over Italy, which are the official Film Commissions of the Italian administrative regions. IFC aims to offer a unified image of the Italian audiovisual sector narrated in its regional specificities, promoting the different territories in terms of their distinctive landscape and cultural, artistic and economic features. The Italian Film Commissions takes action to consolidate relations with national and international institutions, with organization of joint initiatives on global scale fostering the development and promotion of the Italian audiovisual system.

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