The economic maneuver is often a source of controversy, especially when the opposition has few ideas and lacks coherence. One of the most surreal debates concerned the world of movie theaterdue to the “enormous” Reduction in funding signed by the minister Sangiulian. An incredible mess for a division that is physiological in every sense, especially when it is necessary to resort to waste reduction to avoid the tax increases so dear to the left: around 5 percent from the cinema and audiovisual fund, matched with the others Ministries. Much less than the feared 100 million euros. Paolo Sorrentino spoke in Repubblica of a “short-sighted and illogical vision”, while Antonio Albanese denounced the alleged “great disgrace”. But the shame here is something else.
If there is one category that has fewer reasons to protest than the others, cinema surpasses them all. THE Pay They speak clearly and clearly, with all respect for the usual dissatisfied people. From 471 million in 2020 we went to 885 million in 2021 thanks to the then minister Franceschini, very popular with the intelligentsia but also the father of the bankrupt ItsArt. 746 million were then made available in 2022 and 2023. Therefore rather high values. THE Results Have they seen each other? Absolutely not: just remember that a small group of ten films that grossed over 6 million euros had a total of 2,420 viewers. Not everyone together. Including a film that cost hundreds of thousands of euros and was seen by “up to” 79 people.
To be clear: It is wrong to judge a work by its revenue. But the point is different: too many films were made, far more than necessary. Not for special needs, but to make access to funds easier. A situation reported by the director of the Venice Film Festival a little over a year ago Alberto Barbera (not a dangerous right-winger, so to speak): “About 250 titles were created this year, numbers from the sixties. A huge production, since there has been an unprecedented amount of money and financial resources in circulation in our country recently. It is probably a random phenomenon, but there is a risk of a bubble, also because the number of films produced is exorbitant compared to our film market and the absorption capacity of the platforms.” Barbera is one of the leading experts in the sector and, above all, stands He is above all parties, so there is little to discuss.
The maxi financing has led to a Superiority of quantity at the expense of quality. Some works cost a lot of money to be seen by a few, also because many films only stayed in the cinema for a few days and did not even have access to streaming platforms and the small screen. An immense waste of resources. A €50 million cut to what is poised to become the “poorest” financial firm of the last six years can only do good things.