“The Italian Film Commission (IFC) is a division of the Italian Trade Commission (ITC) and operates as the promotional office for the Italian Entertainment Industry. The Italian Film Commission provides information and assistance to the American audiovisual industry by showcasing, promoting and assisting with Italian locations, facilities, and Italian crews above and below the line. The Italian Film Commission in 1998 became part of AFCI, the Association of Film Commissions International.” The IFC organizes events, seminars, screenings, and participates in entertainment trade shows. It publishes a national production guide (consultable on its Web site), provides marketing research, and sponsors industry-related events. It functions as a liaison between the Italian film community, its services, products, and the U.S. industry.
Los Angeles, entertainment capital of the world, could not help but attract Italian (-and other) actors, set designers, producers, directors, and photographers from its earliest industry days to the present. There is a long history of Italians in “Hollywood,” they are here today, and too numerous to list. They are both Italian and Italian American.
Efforts to promote Italian film in Los Angeles have increased in recent years, making this a high priority with the Italian Cultural Institute (Istituto Italiano di Cultura)óespecially under the ex-directorship of Guido Fink, professor of cinema at the University of Florence, Italy. You can see current Italian films in the Sala Rossellini of the IIC (see their monthly calendar online, or sign up to receive e-mail announcements). Further, LAIFA promotes Italian and Italian American film in America. Several Italian media maintain corresponding journalists in Los Angeles as well (See: MEDIA, Italian Journalists in Los Angeles). Here follows a very limited list of current Italians in film and TV:
Actors: Dom Deluise, Joe Mantegna, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Sylvester Stallone, Frank Agrama, Rose Colosanti,
Directors: Carlo Carlei, Bernard Hiller, Andrea Barzini, Marco Brambilla, Michael Cimino
Filmmakers: Teo Ruspoli, Paolo Borraccetti, Evelina Luongo, Luigia Martelloni
Agents: Paul Attanasio
Costume Designer: Milena Canonero
Producers: Dino De Laurentiis, Donald P. Bellisario, Doug De Luca
Production: Grazia Caroselli
Photography: Dante Spinotti, Kim Canazzi