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Tandem - Online magazine Sept. 28 - Oct 5, 2012 Lights, Camera, Italy! Recent conference in Toronto discussed the benefits of filming in Italy and the fiscal incentives supporting investment in film production and distribution By Rosanna Bonura >> Special Series Archive Originally Published: 2012-09-21 >> Contests / Promotions >> Who We Are >> Horoscope Page 1/...Page 2 >> Job opportunities >> Advertising >> Links >> Search The workshop continued with discussion and presentation on the cultural requirements and cultural test for foreign films. Under this law, all categories of film must pass a cultural test to meet the EU requirement for State aid. The test is divided into three blocks: content, creative talents, and production. The workshop then moved into discussion on financial elements and how to calculate the tax credit. Topics covered included all eligible costs, the administrative process on how to obtain the tax credit, and the effective saving on the budget for foreign film. Both La Torre and Committeri were happy to be in Toronto to begin the discussion on tax incentives and filming in Italy. “We believe that the Toronto International Film Festival is the best place to start with this process. We really like the city a lot. There is a great presence of Italians here and we see that there is an interest by What is your Canadian producers and a better understanding of how the cinema market in Italy opinion on organ works,” La Torre told Tandem/Corriere Canadese. and tissue donation? One of the most important parts of the workshop was the discussion on co- production between Italy and Canada, an issue all on the panel support and For promote. The first treaty of co-production between the two countries was in 1970 Against and a new treaty was established in 1999. From 1970 to 2012, there were six co- productions made between Italy and Canada. This brought the discussion of the View Results workshop to a case study of the film Barney’s Version, a beneficiary of the Italian tax credit and an Italian/Canadian co-production between Canada’s Serendipity Point Films and Italy’s Fandango. Barney’s Version, a highly successful film, was based on the seminal novel by Mordecai Richler and takes a look at the life and memories of Barney Panosfky, a hard drinking, cigar smoking, foul- mouthed hockey fanatic. It was directed by Richard Lewis and featured a phenomenal casting including Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Dustin Hoffman, Minnie Driver, Recent Jobs and Rachelle Lefevre. “Barney’s Version was such a culturally important film for Operations both countries. It resonated with Italians in a way that perhaps didn’t resonate as Supervisor - 27-Sep- much with other nationalities because Barney is a man who wears his heart on his 2012 - Calgary sleeve, speaks from the hip, and gets himself into a lot of trouble. Southern Europe is certainly more aligned in character to that type of a personality than your Crane Operator - 27- northern neighbours. As a novel it was a large success in Italy I think because of Sep-2012 - Toronto that identification between Italians and the main character,” said Musselman about the film and its success. Page 2/...Page 3 http://www.corrieretandem.com/viewstory.php?storyid=12451&page=2[30/09/2012 12:57:35 AM] Tandem - Online magazine Sept. 28 - Oct 5, 2012 Lights, Camera, Italy! Recent conference in Toronto discussed the benefits of filming in Italy and the fiscal incentives supporting investment in film production and distribution By Rosanna Bonura >> Special Series Archive Originally Published: 2012-09-21 >> Contests / Promotions >> Who We Are >> Horoscope Page 2/...Page 3 >> Job opportunities >> Advertising >> Links >> Search The case study looked at how the tax benefit was used for the film, and the cultural test as pertained to the film. The discussion was led by Mark Musselman and Valeria Ligurgo, who further addressed the pros and cons for producers when accessing Italian tax incentives, how to access cash-flow, and the actual saving on the budget. Canadian producer Mark Musselman was happy to be part of the conference, noting that it was the first panel he’s been involved in with a connection with a country trying to seriously promote their domestic tax structure. “The Italian program is a terrific one. Italy is competing with virtually every other country in Europe and in particular Eastern Europe who each have their domestic tax benefits What is your that they offer for any producer anywhere in the world who shows up and starts opinion on organ spending money in their countries. The Italians have done a great job in putting and tissue together a program that will hopefully attract a lot more of the non-cultural business donation? to Italy,” said Musselman. He also addressed his appreciation of working with Italians in Italy on the Barney’s Version project. “It’s not often that you develop a For relationship of trust between what are essentially commercial partnerships. These Against individuals in particular became friends in a way that other films we’ve done in a similar structure haven’t, so it was a pleasure from the first time we met until now.” View Results Musselman also discussed the various financial benefits of filming in Italy, recommending it to any Canadian producers. “Italy is a great place to visit and produce, it’s a fun place to be and has an energy that is different from ours and an approach to life that is certainly different to ours. It’s just wonderful to participate in it and experience it. I would love to go back there and produce again,” Musselman told Tandem/Corriere Canadese. Recent Jobs The workshop ended with a Q & A session and closing remarks by Niv Fichman Project Health, and the rest of the panel. One final message addressed during the workshop was Safety & the success of the Italian tax credit and its incentive framework. “We don’t want Environmental people thinking that shooting in Italy and getting access to Italian tax benefits is Advisor - 26-Sep- difficult. It’s a complex law, but it’s a very straightforward process. Since 2009 we 2012 - Calgary have experienced 22 foreign films shot in Italy and they were all very successful in getting access to tax credits. The law is very successful, and it’s working,” said Graveyard Stockers- Mario La Torre. Sharing this message during TIFF was also the perfect avenue to Real Canadian begin discussion and hopefully future successful projects and co-productions Superstore - 29-Sep- between Canada and Italy, something Italian Trade Commissioner for Canada, 2012 - Chilliwack http://www.corrieretandem.com/viewstory.php?storyid=12451&page=3[30/09/2012 12:58:11 AM] Tandem - Online magazine Pasquale Bova couldn’t agree more on. “I think it’s important to let people know what kind of fiscal advantage Italy has to offer. This is a relatively recent law and I believe it is very effective in reducing production costs and providing tax credits. TIFF is one of the top festivals in the world so there is no other venue in North America where this kind of message could be conveyed in the same way. I couldn’t imagine beginning this discussion anywhere else but Toronto.” Page 3/...Page 4 Printable Version Email to a Friend Share Voice Your Opinion Letter to the Editor Comments CorriereTandem.com editors reserve the right to edit, review and allow or reject, in their entirety, website comments. Those comments that are posted are not the opinions of Corriere Canadese/Tandem, or Multimedia Nova Corporation nor its affiliates but only of the writer. Spelling and grammar errors will not be corrected. We will not allow comments that include personal attacks on citizens at large; comments that make false or unsubstantiated allegations; comments that claim to quote people or reports where the quote or fact is not publicly known; or comments that include vulgar language or libelous statements. Home / Back to Top Tandem Home | Contact Us | Privacy Policy © Copyright 2012 Multimedia Nova Corporation All Rights Reserved. http://www.corrieretandem.com/viewstory.php?storyid=12451&page=3[30/09/2012 12:58:11 AM] Tandem - Online magazine Sept. 28 - Oct 5, 2012 Lights, Camera, Italy! Recent conference in Toronto discussed the benefits of filming in Italy and the fiscal incentives supporting investment in film production and distribution By Rosanna Bonura >> Special Series Archive Originally Published: 2012-09-21 >> Contests / Promotions >> Who We Are >> Horoscope Page 3/...Page 4 >> Job opportunities >> Advertising >> Links Printable Version Email to a Friend Share >> Search Voice Your Opinion Letter to the Editor Comments CorriereTandem.com editors reserve the right to edit, review and allow or reject, in their entirety, website comments. Those comments that are posted are not the opinions of Corriere Canadese/Tandem, or Multimedia Nova Corporation nor its affiliates but only of the writer. Spelling and grammar errors will not be corrected. We will not allow comments that include personal attacks on citizens at large; comments that make false or unsubstantiated allegations; comments that claim to quote people or reports where the quote or fact is not publicly known; or comments that include vulgar language or libelous statements. What is your Home / Back to Top opinion on organ and tissue donation? For Against View Results Recent Jobs Project Engineer- Construction - 25- Sep-2012 - Calgary Public Relations Specialist - 26-Sep- 2012 - Brampton http://www.corrieretandem.com/viewstory.php?storyid=12451&page=4[30/09/2012 12:58:36 AM].