The House of Commons gives the green light (bipartisan) to the consolidated bill on cinema
Those who spoke out against the Futuro Nazionale MPs and Luigi Marattin (Pld). The proposal now goes to the Senate
The Chamber of Deputies has approved the consolidated bill on cinema at first reading, with 218 votes in favour and 6 against. The bill, which now passes to the Senate, has thus received bipartisan support. The deputies from Futuro Nazionale and Luigi Marattin (Pld) voted against it.
Among other things, the bill proposes the establishment of the Agency for Cinema and Audiovisual Media, to which the management, operational and implementation functions relating to cinema and the audiovisual sector currently assigned to the Ministry of Culture will be transferred, with the exception of those relating to policy-making, strategic oversight and inspection.
As regards the powers delegated to the executive, these include the commitment to establish a National Centre for Cinema and Audiovisual Media, involving the relevant state authorities responsible for cinema and audiovisual matters, Cinecittà SpA and the Experimental Centre of Cinematography.
Giuli: historic film bill, an atmosphere of collaboration and harmony
“The Chamber of Deputies’ approval of the cinema and audiovisual reform is a tangible achievement, the result of contributions from both the majority and the opposition. It is a model of cohesion that places the sector’s interests at the centre,” commented the Minister for Culture, Alessandro Giuli. “With this measure, we are ushering in a new era in our relationship with the film industry, based on dialogue, trust and mutual responsibility. The establishment of the Agency, the three-year programme, fixed release windows and the strengthening of controls lay the foundations for more transparent procedures and predictable timelines. The legislation also provides for the reorganisation of the tax credit, according to criteria that take into account the size of businesses, the quality of works and the reasonableness of costs.”
According to Giuli, the protection of employment is ‘an essential part of the change’. ‘The new provisions strengthen social security and welfare safeguards and provide for a review of the discontinuity allowance and social safety nets, whilst taking into account the specific circumstances of artists, technicians, professionals and workers. The establishment of a solidarity fund will provide practical support to workers in precarious financial circumstances’.
