Aurelio De Laurentiis Criticizes Italian Film Funding System

Naples, Italy – Film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis has publicly criticized Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage Alessandro Giuliano regarding the allocation of funds to the Italian film industry. De Laurentiis voiced his concerns at a press conference for his upcoming comedy, School of Seduction, which will be exclusively available on Paramount+ starting April 1st.

De Laurentiis stated, “If you have 650 million a year available to support cinema and you don’t know how to divide it up by differentiated skills, it’s better for you not to be the minister.” He further suggested that a portion of the funding – specifically 50% – should be distributed based on a film’s popularity and box office success. He argued that this would incentivize quality and accountability within the industry.

The producer continued, “You want to do the ‘taker’ or the entrepreneur, in the first case we won’t give you the money.” He likewise expressed his disapproval of individuals without industry experience being involved in film production, stating, “We shouldn’t have butchers produce films that don’t even make it to the screen.”

De Laurentiis’s comments highlight ongoing debates about the effectiveness and fairness of Italy’s film funding system. The producer’s company, Filmauro, has been a significant player in Italian cinema for decades, and his criticisms carry weight within the industry.

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