Focus on Italy: Why Filming in Italy is Now More Convenient Than Ever
Learn more about Italy’s 40% tax credit, the legendary Cinecittà Studios Facilities and meet APE -The Italian Association of Production Service Companies.
Panelist & Moderator
Roberto Stabile, Cinema and Audiovisual of the Ministry of Culture (DGCA-MiC) at Cinecittà
Panelists
Marco Valerio Pugini, APE – Association of Italian Production Service Companies
Cristina Giubbetti, APE – Association of Italian Production Service Companies
Manuela Cacciamani,Cinecittà S.p.A.
Francesca Rotondo, Cinecittà S.p.A.
Presented by
The Italian Ministry of Culture, APE and Cinecittà Studios
Speakers
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Roberto StabileHead of Special Projects, Cinema and Audiovisual of the Ministry of Culture (DGCA-MiC) at CinecittàAfter graduating with a degree in Political Science and International Affairs he has dedicated the past 30 years to developing and strengthening relationships with international cinema and TV institutions.
From 1996 to 2005, he held the title of General Secretary of the National Union of Film Producers in ANICA (Italian Film Audiovisual and Digital Industries Association), and from 2005 to 2023 he held the title Head of the International Department in ANICA.
For the Italian Trade Agency, he set up a network of information desks on the Italian film industry funding and location services in the major World Markets.
He is also the Co-founder of the AVPSummit, which he directed in 2022 and 2023 with the aim of promoting dialogue, cooperation, and increasing business between American, French and Italian film industries.
From March 2022, he has become Head of Special Projects of the DGCA-MiC at Cinecittà to enhance international cooperation, activities and further develop relationships and business among Italian and foreign film professionals.
Another pillar of Pugini’s activity is his constant commitment to training. He attended specialization courses (“Screenwriter as Storyteller” by Tom Schlesinger and Keith Cunningham and the ACE 6 Workshop), and in 2001 helped create a production course within the master MEGA-Plus of the Media Business School of which was in charge from 2009 until 2015. He has acted as tutor and expert for many schools and institutions, along with his intense activity as a consultant. -
Manuela CacciamaniCEO, Cinecittà S.p.A.Manuela Cacciamani began her professional career working alongside world-renowned directors such as Martin Scorsese, Stephen Soderbergh, Wes Anderson, and Terry Gilliam. In 2006, she founded her film and audiovisual production company, One More Pictures. Since the same year, she has also been a partner at Direct 2 Brain, a VFX, post-production company, and software house. Her passions lie in storytelling, talent development, and technology.
She has taught at the Scuola Holden, where she led a cross-media course, and at the IED Academy, where she taught video design.
In 2018, in collaboration with Rai Cinema, she launched the national contest “The Reality That Doesn’t Exist” to select new creative ideas to be produced in both traditional formats and in new media such as Virtual Reality and Video Mapping. The projects were showcased as special events at the 76th and 77th Venice International Film Festival.
During the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, she conceived and developed the participatory platform Posso.it, a free digital portal where users can offer their time and expertise to help others. It serves as a digital tool for social support.
In the same year, she became Chief Digital Officer of Videocittà, a festival of visual culture dedicated to audiovisual and cross-media contamination. In July 2024, she was appointed CEO of Cinecittà S.p.A. with the aim of revitalizing the historic studios and strengthening its position in the global film industry.
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Marco Valerio PuginiPresident, APE - Association of Italian Production Service CompaniesMarco Valerio Pugini is the majority shareholder and main Producer of Panorama Films S.r.l. and President of APE – Association of Production Service Companies.
As well as his company commitments, Pugini is also a very active Executive Producer. He was the Co-Executive Producer of the television series Rome and The White Lotus S2 (HBO), and acted, as Producer, Exec. Producer, Co-Producer or Line Producer on a long string of projects including Mr. & Mrs. Smith S1 (K. Evans), House of Gucci (Ridley Scott), Indiana Jones 5 (James Mangold), Tenet (Christopher Nolan), Mission Impossible 7 (Chris McQuerrie), Miracle at St. Anna (Spike Lee) and many more.
He strongly believes in the importance of Associations and training. He was a founding partners of API – Independent Authors and Producers, which then merged into ANICA; APP – Advertising Producers and, finally, of APE, that he led from 2003 to 2012, succeeding in the completion of a Field Study that led to participating in the discussion regarding the current laws on fiscal incentives. He is a member of the European Film Academy and former member of the Emmy International Academy.
Since 2011 he has been a member of the Joint Committee (Anica, APT, APE, CGIL, CISL, UIL) and follows the process for the renewal of the National Corporate Contract for the Film, Television and Advertising Fields.
Another pillar of Pugini’s activity is his constant commitment to training. He attended specialization courses (“Screenwriter as Storyteller by” Tom Schlesinger and Keith Cunningham and the ACE 6 Workshop) and, in 2001 helped to create a production course within the master MEGA-Plus of the Media Business School of which he has been in charge from 2009 until 2015. He has acted as tutor and expert for many schools and institutions, along with his intense activity as a consultant.
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Francesca RotondoSales and Business Development Manager, Cinecittà S.p.A.Francesca Rotondo is a professional with over 20 years of experience at Cinecittà Studios. As Senior International Sales Manager, she manages the rental of Cinecittà’s sound stages, backlot locations, and all related services, striving to meet the needs of production from prep to wrap. A trained architect, Francesca has been working at Cinecittà since 2001 in various roles, ranging from VFX post-production to sales management. Her experience and dedication have significantly contributed to the success and growth of the studios. She believes what makes Cinecittà stand out is the time and effort the Sales Department dedicates to understanding their clients’ needs and the proven ability to work professionally and efficiently, exceeding expectations without exceeding budgets.
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Cristina GiubbettiVice President, APE - Association of Italian Production Service CompaniesCristina Giubbetti is based in Rome and currently is Executive Producer for international productions at Cattleya. Her most recent productions include any budget level. She served as Executive Producer “TWO SCOOPS OF ITALY” for MarVista Entertainment, but also “THE FIRST OMEN” for 20th Century Studios. She serviced both seasons of “DOMINA” for Sky Studios and MGM+, both seasons of “SIGNORA VOLPE” for Route 24 and Acorn TV. She produced also “ROSALINE” and “THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN” for 20th Century Studios, “UNTHINKABLY GOOD THINGS”, “ROME IN LOVE” and “CHRISTMAS IN ROME” for Hallmark Channel, “MAFIA MAMMA” for Edver Films, “CASSINO IN ISCHIA” for Isola Verde Films – Paramount Global and “La DERIVE DES CONTINENTES (AU SUD)” for Bandita Films – selected in the QUINZAINE DES REALISATEURS at Cannes 2022.
In 2008, she worked as Sales Manager for international productions at Cinecittà Studios and in 2011 she became responsible for the studios’ executive production services, working with the most important international clients such as Woody Allen, Paul Haggis, MGM, Paramount, Universal, Amazon, Canal +, HBO, Warner Bros., Disney and many more. She had previously been president of the Italian Film Commission and General Manager of the Umbria Film Commission, where she also worked as a production supervisor. Before that, she had worked as a production manager for many of the most important Italian and European productions.
