From the Lido, the CEO of Cinecittà talks about the budget, which will return to profit in 2022: “We are discussing several important series and a great film.”
From Andrea Pinci was sent to Venice.,
September 8, 2023
A the balance sheet returned to profit in 2022, with a net profit of more than 1.8 million. The positive result is one year ahead of the industrial plan forecasts for 2022-2026 with a turnover of 39 million, which is more than double the figure for 2021, and the first half of 2023 gives hope. Nicola Maccanico, CEO of Cinecittà, sums up Cinecittà during a meeting with the press in Venice during the film exhibition. The relaunch of the studios, announced in 2021, is now confirmed by numbers and production that the CEO says show consolidation has occurred. “Cinecittà is once again fully competitive and attractive nationally and for international production. The unusual start to the half year allows us to imagine that the year will end with growth and therefore revenue will exceed 39 million.” Like last year, 2023 also recorded high occupancy rates for all pavilions throughout the year for films, television series and advertising, 70% of which were international productions. In total more than 50 productionswhich bring thousands of workers to the studios every day.
There’s just one big drawback that worries Maccanico: the actors’ and writers’ strike that paralyzes Hollywood and beyond. His Effect this is already heard loud and clear in Venice, where the American presence is kept to a minimum. And Maccanico admits its spread “like wildfire” is already having an impact on Cinecitta. “The US strike slowed down Cinecittà’s work and could have had a greater impact if it had continued. It requires a lot of attention, it was perceived as far from us at first, but it is a serious problem,” notes Maccanico at a meeting with the press in Venice during the film exhibition. “It’s too early for us to give numbers,” he adds, “we haven’t had any cancellations, but work has stopped and the situation in Cinecittà is now more decongested.” But we are still able to resist and have a more positive result than last year.”
The symbolic fruit of this positive curve it is also recorded in Venice, where four of the six Italian films in competition also passed through Cinecittà during filming.: “Comandante” by Edoardo De Angelis, “Finamente l’alba” by Saverio Costanzo (“The main character is Cinecitta”, emphasizes Maccanico), “Adagio” by Stefano Sollima and “Aenea” by Pietro Castellitto. Among the movie titles that Cinecitta conducted in recent months, there are Luca Guadagnino, Anthony Hopkins, Daniel Craig, Angelina Jolie, Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Charlize Theron, Uma Thurman, Denzel WashingtonJust to name a few.
As for the projects in development, Maccanico explains that “there are a couple of important TV series and a big movie that we’re discussing, and we expect something big to land here when the strike is over.” And this, the general director emphasizes, is also thanks to the technological upgrade provided for by the new industrial plan. As with the excellent T18, the clever stage with LED virtual filming wall is one of the largest in Europe for recreating all kinds of sets already used by Roland Emmerich in the series he is directing, Those Who Are Gonna Die. Angelina Jolie, Joe Wright and Pietro Castellitto himself.
Also in full working order Lumina, studio complex led by Cinecittà to meet growing product demand, which also hosted the David di Donatello evening in 2023. Further impetus comes from Cinecittà’s plan, contained in Pnrr, for the development of studios in 2026. Tender notices for the construction of new theaters and the renovation of existing ones, as well as all contracts with transferred companies, have been published in in accordance with the target for June 30, 2026, which provides for the conclusion of investments. Among other things, the plan provides for the construction of 5 new pavilions and the reconstruction of 4 existing theaters. In 2026, Cinecittà will have 25 operating cinemas and production capacity will increase by more than 60%. “In total we are investing 220 million, which is 80% of Pnrr,” explains Maccanico. Regarding possible investments in the land of Torre Spaccata, after the “change of strategy” of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, the project “is not abandoned, but suspended.” Regarding Tarak Ben Ammar’s interest in making Cinecittà 2, Maccanico makes it clear: “It is not in Cinecittà’s interest to use its brand for other projects.”