FICCI's Participation at the Rome Film Festival 2007
October 18-27, 2007, Rome

The Rome Film Festival was held in Rome, Italy, from October 18th -27th, 2007. India was the 'Focus Country' at the Festival. FICCI took a 45-member delegation, led by renowned film-maker and FICCI Entertainment Committee Chairman, Yash Chopra, to this festival to showcase India's potential in the creative industries and give an opportunity to Indian industry members to forge partnerships with Italian counterparts. FICCI also organized various interactive meetings with the Italian media and entertainment representatives. India was the flavour of the entire festival with a showcase dedicated to the many and variegated cultures in India through music, art, celebrities, dance and obviously cinema. More than 15 Indian films were showcased and some new films were premiered in the festival. "The Last Lear" by Rituporno Ghosh was selected for a Red Carpet premiere at the Festival.

The FICCI mission to Italy started with the delegates attending the Opening Concert on 18th October, 2007 with "Introduction to Focus India". This event marked the beginning of the festival with a live concert to a 5000 strong audience sprinkled with many stars from all over the globe especially Hollywood. Ms Sophia Loren, Hollywood star, was honoured at this event. The opening concert was followed by a opening dinner party at the majestic Palazzo delle Esposizioni .

India & Italy have witnessed increasing growth in mutual investment as well as a greater awareness of the two countries' respective economic, social, cultural and political realities. FICCI, along with its counterpart chambers, Confindustria, organized "India-Italy Business Forum" on 19th October to take stock of the achievements so far and possible scenarios for future collaboration. This conference saw the participation of more than 300 delegates from Italy and India.

Italy announced the setting up of a 10 million Euro fund for this year to promote Indo-Italian ties. Ms. Emma Bonnino, Italian Minister of Trade, the guest of honour at this business forum, said that India was a priority country and the fund will help enhance trade, which currently stood at 5 billion Euros.

Mr Yash Chopra, in his address, laid emphasis on creating audiences in both countries by exhibiting Indian films in Italy and vice versa. Actual co-production will be possible only by creating audiences for each other's cinema. Indian films are appreciated by many countries and increasingly screened in various countries to mainstream audiences and not just to non-resident Indians.

Kabir Bedi, Actor, Goutam Ghosh, Film-maker and Aditya Bhattacharya, Executive producer of India-Italy co-production 'Chase' have all been a part of the Italian film industry. They have worked on various co-productions and recounted first-hand experiences about their work with Italian counterparts. They also pointed out there was immense scope for India and Italy to work together as there were many similarities in the both cultures and the way both societies viewed family relationships.

The conference had a very distinguished panel of speakers comprising stalwarts such as Goffredo Bettini, President of Rome Film Festival, Piero Marrazzo, President of the Region of Lazio , Luca di Montezemolo, President of Confindustria , Paolo Ferrari, President of ANICA , Riccardo Tozzi, President ANICA Film Producers & Cattleya Film & TV ,Giuseppe Veredice, CEO TeleSpazio, Giuseppe Veredice, CEO TeleSpazio

The conference was followed by a high powered lunch hosted by head of Ferrari, Mr Montezemolo, which saw the presence of more than 200 top CEO's from various sectors of Italy. Mr Yash Chopra was the guest of honour. The lunch was a resounding success with each table having a healthy mingling of Indian and international delegates

The B2B Film co- production meetings were organized by FICCI & FILAS, an agency that promotes development, innovation, financing and co-productions. The Indian industry discussed possibilities of co-production in films with their Italian counterparts. This was very beneficial especially since the Indo-Italian treaty recently got ratified in August.

An Animation and VFX roundtable was followed by a B2B meeting between animation companies of India and Italy. Mr Ramesh Prasad , Chairman of Prasad Laboratories, Mr Sudhish Rambhotla, Colourchips and Sumedha Saroagi of DQ entertainment made presentations from the Indian animation industry and reiterated that the future of Indian animation and VFX industry held tremendous potential for foreign investments and co - production.

Giovanna Mosobello of Grupo Alcuni , the biggest animation company in Italy has a tie-up with DQ entertainment and reiterated the potential of the business between India and Italy. He said his company found the experience of working with India very good and will continue to do so in future. The President of Cartoon Italia, Mr Pietro Campedelli also made a presentation.

Indian cinema was the highlight of the festival and more so in the red carpet premiere of the film " The Last Lear" directed by Rituporno Ghosh. The Indian business delegation walked the red carpet as they are the real stars of the Bollywood industry along with Soha Ali Khan. The hall was packed with 3000 Italians who got the taste of an Indian movie. A standing ovation by the crowd was a befitting response to the movie.

The Indian delegation was then taken to visit various film locations in Italy including Villa Falconieri, Palazzo Chigi and Cinecittà Studios. The tour was very educational and showed the rich culture of Italy through paintings, sculptures and frescos. The Italian countryside is one of the best in the world and would have surely given ideas to our producers and directors for their future films.

The highpoint of the delegation was the award bestowed on Mr. Yash Chopra, noted producer and director as a recognition to his contribution to the Indian film industry. He was facilitated with Focus India's special award by Ms. Emma Bonnino, Italian Minister of Trade.

The grand finale of the Indian presence was the Indian theme party where the Italians dressed in colourful saris, guests were greeted with Indian stoles and bindis and a scintillating performance by a dance group that made the Italians groove to the beats of Bollywood numbers.