Italian Cinema Industry, Dynamics of 2021, Exploration of new business models
An important industry hit hard by the pandemic that is restarting thanks to the health protocol for the resumption of audiovisual productions and that explores new business models.
The bad news is the pandemic that has blocked television and film productions for a few months and still leaves theaters closed.
The good news is that Italian cinema was in good health before the Covid-19 tsunami and that it presents itself better than others at the appointment with the profound changes in the way it is enjoyed in recent months that are expected to last even after the health emergency is over.
In 2019, Italy recorded the best growth in Europe in box office takings and the fifth best result since 1995 (Anica data).
2020, before the closing of the theaters, had started better, with + 20% compared to the same period of the previous year.
A growth figure on which Italian productions had a greater weight (56.56% of the total, in 2019 it was 21.24%), even if a large part of this exploit is thanks to only one film, Tolo tolo di Checco Zalone.
The subsequent closure of the cinemas caused a collapse at the box office which was offset by the exponential growth of all video streaming platforms.
The future of the sector, in addition to the reopening of the theaters, will pass precisely through a formula that combines the different transmission channels in the most profitable way. A process full of unknowns but also of opportunities for those who will be able to face it with dynamism.
A quick examination of some of the most important and interesting film production companies on the Italian scene.
Listed companies
The IIF, founded in the late 1950s by Fulvio Lucisano, stands out for its longevity. Over the years he has produced films by many Italian directors, from Risi to Bruno, and distributed over 500 films in Italy. The IIF is 100% controlled by Lucisano Media Group, founded by the owner in 1992 and since 2014 listed on the AIM Italia market of the Italian Stock Exchange. Recent productions include the fictional Mina Settembre and the film Return to Crime. The year 2019 ended with revenues of 38 million euros (+ 2.3% compared to the previous year).
Fresh from listing in the AIM-PRO segment of the AIM Italia list managed by Borsa Italiana is Fenix Entertainment, founded in 2006, specializing in the production of films, short films, documentaries, TV series, docu-films and soundtracks.
Equally listed is Iervolino Entertainment, founded in 2011, an innovative company (his first film financed in cryptocurrencies) and of international scope which has Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi as majority shareholders.
The recent performance of Leone Film Group is excellent (it gained over 20% in Piazza Affari, where it is listed on the AIM Italia market). The film production and distribution company founded by Sergio Leone 30 years ago took advantage of the three-year agreement with Amazon which provides for the exclusive purchase of all its productions.
The historians
The historical reality of the sector is Filmauro, founded in 1975 as Auro Cinematografica by Luigi De Laurentiis and his son Aurelio. Over the course of its history, Filmauro has produced over 400 films; among its leading directors Avati, Monicelli, Festa Campanile, Verdone, Veronesi, Vanzina.
As a distribution company it has handled over 300 films by directors such as Allen, Almodovar, Lynch and Besson. Filmauro is also one of the leading Italian music publishers with a catalog that includes soundtracks signed by Morricone, Piccioni and Rota.
Instead, Maurizio Totti founded Colorado Film, the leading company of the Iven group, in 1986. Since 2017 Rainbow (company owned by Iginio Straffi, leader in animation production) has acquired the majority stake in Iven (thus giving rise to an entity for which a turnover of 100 million euros is estimated, of which 20 % of Iven). Colorado has produced films and TV shows, including the show of the same name.
Independent and emerging
One of the largest independent producers is Cattleya who has over 70 films and numerous television series to his credit.
Since 2017, the majority belongs to the English company ITV Studios. Since 2009 with thinkcattleya the company also produces commercials.
Wildside, born in 2009, has directors Fausto Brizzi and Saverio Costanzo among its founders. After various corporate changes and mergers, since 2015 it has been part of the English group Freemantle. Among his productions are the TV series The young Pope and the blockbuster Come un gatto in tangenziale.
Pepito Produzioni, launched in 2011, also stands out in the panorama. Among the most recent successes are the films Hammamet and Favolacce.
Other interesting realities are Aurora Film (by Giannandrea Pecorelli, from the blockbuster film Night before the exams to the soap The paradise of the ladies), Frenesy (founded by the director Luca Guadagnino), 3zero2tv (partner for media producers, publishers and brands in the creation and distribution of audiovisual products), R&C (founded in 1998 by Tilde Corsi and Gianni Romoli, produces the films of Ozpetek), MariFilm (founded in 2007 by Massimo Boldi, has produced seven films and a TV series), Indiana (since 2004 has been involved in advertising and film and television production), Greenland (born from the meeting between producer Matteo Rovere and director Sydney Sibilia).
Final mention of the production house 42, founded among others by Gianluca Neri (writer, author, presenter and blogger) who created the SanPa docu-series.
February 12, 2021
Source Borsa Italiana
