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Winnipeg Free Press
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Italian film industry rocked by ‘fantasy film' linked to American director sought in double murder
ROME (AP) — The head of the Italian Culture Ministry's film department resigned Thursday following revelations that an American film director accused in a double homicide had secured nearly $1 million in tax credits from the ministry for a film he never made. The Culture Ministry announced the resignation of Nicola Borrelli in a brief statement overnight, thanking him for his service. It didn't provide a reason. But the scandal over the 'fantasy film' tax credits erupted soon after Greek authorities on the island of Skiathos arrested the California-born Francis Kaufman last month on a European arrest warrant issued by Italy. Italian prosecutors have accused Kaufman in the deaths of an infant girl and her mother, whose bodies were found naked in Rome's Villa Pamphili park on June 7. Kaufman, who was using the alias Rexal Ford, is currently awaiting extradition to Italy. State-run RAI television has said that he told Italian prosecutors via video call that he was innocent, but declined to answer further questions without a lawyer. The Culture Ministry has confirmed that Kaufman, using the alias Ford and his Tintangel Films LLC company, had obtained the tax credit for a film, 'Stelle della Notte' (Stars of the Night), that was never made. The confirmation came in a statement last week in which the ministry confirmed it had handed over to prosecutors all the documentation it had in connection with the film, a co-production with an Italian firm Coevolutions Srl. Italian media have published ministry documentation showing that 'Stelle della Notte' had obtained 836,439.08 euros in tax credits in 2023. Such tax credits are a regular part of the financial incentives Italy gives to filmmakers to produce and distribute films in the country. On Wednesday, Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli told lawmakers that the ministry was cooperating fully with prosecutors, noting that he had personally accompanied the police when they arrived at the ministry June 27 to seize the material. In an appearance in the Senate chamber, Giuli acknowledged a long-standing problem in the ministry of financing and tax credits for projects that never get made. 'No more fantasy films,' he vowed. The resignation of Borrelli was the second earthquake this week in the Italian film industry, following the resignation over the weekend of the head of the storied Cinecitta film studio, Chiara Sbarigia. Sbarigia said in a statement that she was stepping down to concentrate on her other job as president of Italy's audio-visual producers association. Italian media and lawmakers had blasted her dual jobs as a conflict of interest, a claim that she and Giuli have denied.
Watani
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Watani
Italians of Egypt at Bibliotheca Alexandrina
'Mostra Italiani D'Egitto' ('Italians of Egypt'), an exhibition that opened at Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) in Alexandria on 16 February 2025, features selected items from the archival collections of both institutions that highlight two of the most prominent figures of 20th century's Italian literature: Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and Giuseppe Ungaretti. The event was jointly organised by the BA and the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma (National Central Library in Rome). It featured selected materials from the archival collections of both BA and the Italian library on two of the 20th century most prominent figures in Italian literature: Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and Giuseppe Ungaretti. Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, and BA Director Ahmed Zayed opened the exhibition. Michele Quaroni, Rome's Ambassador to Cairo attended the opening ceremony. Mr Giuli emphasised the depth of the historical friendship that unites Italy and Egypt as two Mediterranean countries. He pointed out that cultural relations between them have continued uninterrupted over time, extending from the ancient world to our contemporary era, thanks to the testimony of many Italians who lived in Egypt. 'This exhibition focuses on two outstanding figures who were born in Egypt and found their inspiration there: Marinetti, founder of the most important avant-garde movement of the 20th century; and Ungaretti, one of the most important Italian poets of all time.' The exhibition showcased the first editions, posters and texts of the two great writers. 'This,' the Italian Minister of Culture stressed, 'allows us to reconstruct the years they lived in Egypt, which were crucial for both of them in their education, writing and subsequent literary production.' Mr Giuli said that the Italian Ministry of Culture was donating a collection of books to the BA, as part of its 'Bibliotheca Italia' project. 'I am pleased to present to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina today with 550 books donated by the Italian Ministry of Culture through the Bibliotheca Italia project, a project that aims to provide a collection of books from the world's leading cultural institutions to encourage learning the Italian language and culture in other countries.' He said that the collection of books includes general culture works such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, texts, books and publications that cover various topics including history, art, customs, and classical and contemporary literature. He expressed his hope that Egyptian youth will enjoy this collection to bring them closer to Italian language and literature. Last year, Mr Giuli pointed, witnessed the celebration of the bicentennial of the foundation of the Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy, which is the oldest in the world and the second largest after the Egyptian Museum. For his part, Dr Zayed, BA Director, reminded of the cultural and artistic partnerships that brought together the BA and Italian institutions, including the inauguration of the Egyptian-Italian Science Year in 2009; the launch of the book 'Italy in Alexandria'; and the international symposium to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death. 'I am confident that the partnership between Egypt and Italy in cultural aspects will continue to flourish and expand in many areas to achieve greater successes that benefit culture and humanity as a whole,' Dr Zayed said. He expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the valuable donation of 550 books on various and diverse topics to be added to the valuable resources in the BA and enrich its collection. 'We look forward to continuing this type of cultural exchange that is vibrant with thought and enlightenment, which promises a future based on cultural and civilisational communication,' Dr Zayed said Mr Quaroni, the Italian Ambassador to Egypt, thanked the Italian Minister of Culture and the BA for organising that important event, noting that the exhibition aimed to highlight the depth and impact of the Egyptian experience in enriching and shaping the lives of Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and Giuseppe Ungaretti, their writings and literary production. Comments comments
