A cry of alarm from documentary filmmakers, several resources – Cinema
Reduced amount of selective funding from Mic, reduced investment from Rai cinema, drastic reduction of internal production of the former Istituto Luca, which also “greatly contributed to the valorization of a unique archive in the world, on the eve of the centenary that ranks it among the oldest audiovisual institutions in Europe”: documentary sector launches a cry of alarm and an appeal to the government, Rai and Cinecittà. In a letter signed by 100 authors, Doc/it, WGI, ANAC, AIR3 – Association of Italian Directors, the authors ask for the valorization of this cinematographic genre which, they say, “represents excellence in the world and which would require a long-term vision and a stable and good financing system to strengthen it”.
“With this letter, we want to draw attention to a paradox that, in our opinion, deserves reflection and discussion among all those who care about the audiovisual sector of our country. In recent years, Italian documentary films have been winning prime time on TV, achieving success in theaters and platforms, awards at festivals”, but “there is still the attitude that important Italian institutional subjects pay little attention to documentaries”, write the directors and authors. which also highlight the issue of costs, which for Italian documentaries are between 25% and 50% of the average cost of European documentaries. “Just think that the total annual funding available for documentaries between Luca and Rai Cinema does not reach 3 million euros: in other European countries it would be enough to finance only 5-6 documentaries”. And this small budget has many consequences: “artistic, professional, human”.
“Given the recent talk of excessive fees for directors, it is good to know that some of the best Italian documentarians have given up,” say the authors who clarify: “Ours is not intended to be an empty polemic, but a contribution to a comparison that seems important to us for the quality of Italian culture and for the essential role that knowledge and narration of reality play in a developed democracy.
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