Italian cinema returns to India at Delhi festival

The 6th Habitat International Film Festival is currently taking place in Delhi. It started on March 21 and will run until March 30. This year, the festival is highlighting Italian cinema through an initiative called Italian Screens. The program was launched on March 24 at the Habitat Centre. Many prominent guests attended the event, including Roberto Stabile from Cinecittà, Andrea Anastasio from the Italian Institute of Culture, and filmmaker Marco Tullio Giordana. Italian Screens is designed to feature a variety of film genres and new talent, including those recognized at the Venice International Film Festival. In addition to film screenings, the initiative promotes tax incentives and funding programs for filmmakers. These incentives aim to encourage co-productions between India and Italy. Stabile emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating it helps to present opportunities for filmmakers interested in working in Italy. Italy offers a significant financial incentive scheme to support its film industry. This includes a fund of at least 700 million euros that helps with films, TV series, and documentaries. The fund includes a tax credit that covers up to 40% of eligible production costs. Stabile expressed hope for more partnerships between Indian and Italian filmmakers. He mentioned an Italian-Indian co-production film, Parikrama, directed by Goutam Ghose, as part of the festival. The initiative also focuses on increasing the visibility of Italian films in various markets, aiming for further growth in international collaborations.