The Franceschini decree has been passed and cinema and television producers couldn’t be happier about the results. Francesca Cima, president of the ANICA (National Association of Film and Audiovisual Industry)producers, expressed his satisfaction by writing that “this law is proof that the government really believes the Italian audiovisual sector as a whole – cinema, television, documentary and animation – to be an important resource for the economy, identity and cultural, industrial and professional growth of this country.” Giancarlo Leone, President of APT (Association of Television Producers), joins him in expressing his support for the decree issued by the Minister for Cultural Heritage following complaints from major broadcasters, dissatisfied with the investment quotas allotted to independent producers which, allegedly, discriminate against otherproducers: “the Franceschini law shifts the attention back to quality Italian and European content, and all independent content that, we mustn’t forget, provide the premium products.”
The decree helpfully defines the role of the independent producer as a “European communication operator who carries out audio-visual productions and is not controlled or connected to providers of audio-visual media services subject to Italian jurisdiction or, alternatively, agrees not to supply more than 90% of his production to a single provider of audio-visual media in a period of three years.”
Specifically, the decree calls for an increase in investment shares by 2020: 20%(currently at 15%) for RAI’sindependent producers, and 15%for commercial networks (currently at 10%).
In relation to programming quotas, during the primetime slot (6-11 pm), priority will be given to Italian films, fiction, documentaries and cartoons. Specifically, RAI will have to reserve 12% of its programming to national content, and only 6% to other suppliers. Furthermore, RAI’s programming will have to include two Italian works a week, one of which has to be cinematic in nature, including animation. This latter specification is particularly important, as Donatella Leone, president of the Cartoon Italia Association, states: “this reform finally allows Italian directors to become internationally competitive.”
