FRED Film Radio - English Channel

At Focus London 2025, Fred Film Radio spoke with Simone Gandolfo, President of the Valle d’Aosta Film Commission, about the fundamentals of a film commission’s role, what sets the region apart, and why in-person markets remain vital to the industry.

A Hands-On Role at the Heart of Production

Simone Gandolfo explained that Valle d’Aosta Film Commission operates very practically, managing its own regional fund alongside national incentives and tax credits. The commission can provide up to €300,000 per production, but he stressed that financial support is only part of the job. Just as important is actin...

At Focus London 2025, Fred Film Radio spoke with Jacopo Chessa, Director of the Veneto Film Commission and President of the Italian Film Commissions Association, about Italy’s film commission system, Veneto’s recent screen successes, and why international collaboration is now central to the industry.

How Film Commissions Work — and Why Italy Attracts Productions

Jacopo Chessa explained that Italy’s film commissions operate at a regional level, with all 20 regions offering public support to film and TV productions. This includes funding, permits and infrastructure, with around €80 million in regional funding available each year nationally, on top of nat...

We met with Laurence Fishburne, at the 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival. He has built a remarkable career spanning decades, becoming one of the most respected figures in Hollywood. From iconic film roles to theatrical productions, his work reflects a deep commitment to storytelling and cultural representation. We talked about his career, his approach to acting, and his future projects.

His Iconic Films

Laurence Fishburne gained worldwide fame with his role in “The Matrix”, where he portrayed Morpheus. This film became a cultural phenomenon, and his portrayal set a new standard for science fiction characters. Beyo...

We met with Guillermo del Toro at the 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival. We talked about his approach to storytelling, his artistic influences, and the themes that shape his films.

Reimagining Monsters with Humanity

Guillermo del Toro is renowned for creating monsters that evoke sympathy rather than mere terror. His fascination with the emotional depth of creatures is rooted in childhood encounters with classic horror and Japanese kaiju movies, where monsters like Godzilla transitioned from destructive forces to misunderstood beings. del Toro often stresses that his monsters symbolise broader human experiences such as loneliness, rejection...

During Focus London 2025, the British Film Commission and the Italian Film Commissions Association signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), strengthening collaboration between the UK and Italian screen industries.

Objective of the Memorandum of Understanding

Building on the 2022 agreement, this new Memorandum of Understanding reinforces strategic cooperation, encourages inward investment, supports high-end film and television production, and promotes both countries as leading global filming
destinations.

The partnership focuses on facilitating co-productions, enhancing joint international promotion, and organising reciprocal industry initiatives to stimulate new opportunities. Within this framework, Cinecittà’s International Department will support mis...

During Focus London 2025, the British Film Commission and the Italian Film Commissions Association signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), strengthening collaboration between the UK and Italian screen industries.

Objective of the Memorandum of Understanding

Building on the 2022 agreement, this new Memorandum of Understanding reinforces strategic cooperation, encourages inward investment, supports high-end film and television production, and promotes both countries as leading global filming
destinations.

The partnership focuses on facilitating co-productions, enhancing joint international promotion, and organising reciprocal industry initiatives to stimulate new opportunities. Within this framework, Cinecittà’s International Department will sup...

During Focus London 2025, the British Film Commission and the Italian Film Commissions Association signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), strengthening collaboration between the UK and Italian screen industries.

Objective of the Memorandum of Understanding

Building on the 2022 agreement, this new Memorandum of Understanding reinforces strategic cooperation, encourages inward investment, supports high-end film and television production, and promotes both countries as leading global filming
destinations.

The partnership focuses on facilitating co-productions, enhancing joint international promotion, and organising reciprocal industry initiatives to stimulate new opportunities. Within this framework, Cinecittà’s International Department will sup...

At Focus London 2025, Fred Film Radio spoke with Georgia Cecconi, Director of West London Film Production, about building creative bridges between the UK and Italy, wearing multiple hats across the industry, and why connection and collaboration sit at the heart of her work.

Balancing Roles Across the Industry

Georgia Cecconi spoke openly about juggling roles as an actor, producer, and company founder, describing it as both challenging and creatively freeing. Having launched West London Film Production as a largely one-woman operation, she explained how the company is now growing into a wider team, alongside an...

At Focus London 2025, we spoke with Alberto Battocchi, Film Commissioner at the Trentino Film Commission, about what a film commission really does today, why being present at Focus remains important, and how Trentino is balancing international ambition with local responsibility.

Attracting Productions While Growing the Local Industry

Alberto Battocchi described the role of a film commission as having two clear missions. On one side, he explained, is the work of attracting film and TV productions from outside the region, whether from elsewhere in Italy, across Europe or further afield. On the other is the responsibility...

At Focus London 2025, we spoke with Stefania Ippoliti, Director of the Toscana Film Commission, about the evolving role of film commissions, what Tuscany continues to offer productions, and why international collaboration feels more important than ever.

Making Tuscany Work for Productions

Stefania Ippoliti described the core role of a film commission as welcoming productions from Italy and abroad and helping them navigate everything from permits to local systems they may not be familiar with. While Tuscany is already a globally recognised brand for its culture and landscapes, she stressed that a key part of the...

At Focus London 2025, we spoke with Diego Cavallo, Partner at Panorama Films, about the role of production service companies, the scale of international projects filming in Italy, and why face-to-face markets still matter.

Supporting Productions on the Ground

Diego Cavallo explained that Panorama Films works as a production service company, supporting international productions at every stage of shooting in Italy. This includes location scouting, liaising with film commissions, providing experienced English-speaking crews, and handling the complex process of applying for Italy’s tax credits. He stressed the importance of trusted local expertise, noting that many of...

At Focus London 2025, we spoke with Andrea Rocco, Director of the Sardegna Film Commission, about stepping into the role, selling Sardinia as a filming destination, and how the region is investing in long-term, sustainable growth.

A New Role with a Clear Mission

Andrea Rocco spoke about recently taking up the role of Director of the Sardegna Film Commission, returning to Focus London after having followed the event for many years in a previous position. He described the core role of a film commission as attracting productions to generate visibility and economic and touristic return, while...

At Focus London 2025, Fred Film Radio spoke with Matteo Garnero, Head of Marketing at the Genova Liguria Film Commission, about the close relationship between filming and tourism, what makes Liguria uniquely versatile on screen, and why international collaboration is key to the region’s ambitions.

A Film Commission as Storyteller and Facilitator

Matteo Garnero described the role of a film commission as having two main goals: first, helping productions understand why a region is worth filming in, and second, making sure that once they arrive, everything runs smoothly. Using Liguria as an example, he described th...

During Focus London 2025, the British Film Commission and the Italian Film Commissions Association signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), strengthening collaboration between the UK and Italian screen industries.

Objective of the Memorandum of Understanding

Building on the 2022 agreement, this new Memorandum of Understanding reinforces strategic cooperation, encourages inward investment, supports high-end film and television production, and promotes both countries as leading global filming
destinations.

The partnership focuses on facilitating co-productions, enhancing joint international promotion, and organising reciprocal industry initiatives to stimulate new opportunities. Within this framework, Cinecittà’s International Department will support mis...

At Focus London 2025, we spoke with Gianluca Leurini, Executive Producer at Eagle Pictures, about the value of international collaboration, the role of film commissions in Italy, and the realities of producing large-scale cinema today.

Why Focus London Still Matters

Gianluca Leurini spoke about Focus London as a valuable opportunity to meet international producers, suppliers and film commissions face to face, stressing that in-person conversations remain far more effective than virtual exchanges. He highlighted the importance of understanding how production landscapes differ across countries and described the event as a space not only to explain Italy’s...

At Focus London 2025, we spoke with Riccardo Neri, Executive Producer at Lupin Film, about the role of production service companies, the value of face-to-face markets, and the kind of filmmaking he is most proud to stand behind.

Production Service as Long-Term Partnership

Neri introduced Lupin Film as a company operating across several areas of the industry, combining production services with original content production in documentaries, features and commercials. As a founding member of APE, the Association of Executive Producers, he explained that his work often involves supporting foreign productions coming to Italy from start to...

At the opening night of MoMA’s Carlo Rambaldi film retrospective, Daniela Rambaldi joined us for a special conversation reflecting on the life and legacy of her father. This interview offers a rare opportunity to hear firsthand how Carlo Rambaldi’s imagination, discipline, and emotional sensitivity shaped some of the most enduring creatures in cinema history.

Speaking from personal memory and family perspective, Daniela Rambaldi discusses her father’s early influences, his approach to craftsmanship, and his collaborations with filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg. The conversation reveals the human dimension behind Carlo Rambaldi’s technical mastery, emphasizing his beli...

At the 43° Torino Film Festival directed by Giulio Base, James Franco is among the artists  receiving the famous festival prize, Stella della Mole.

The actor, writer and director was in Torino to also introduce to the audience the screening of 127 hours by Danny Boyle, which, in 2010, had its italian premiere in Torino.

127 Hours

Back in 2010, Franco was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in 127 Hours, an experience that remained unique in his filmography and that was a first for everyone, including director Danny Boyle...

We met with Terry Gilliam who was one of the recipients of this year’s awarded artists for the Prize. We talked about his position in the history of cinema, his brand in visual and narrative and the future.

Memories for Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas

Terry Gilliam presented in Torino, on the occasion of the award, a special screening of his film “Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas”. He recalls memories of the shooting and the pleasure of working with Johnny Depp e Benicio Del Toro. It was a very fast set, they could...

“Amoeba” is a compelling film that delves into themes of youth, societal control, and rebellion through the lens of a dystopian environment. Centered around four young girls forming a non-violent but revolutionary gang, the film explores how these girls carve out their own identity amid societal pressures, making the Amoeba a symbolic beacon of resistance. We talk about this and more with the director “Amoeba” .

Understanding the Dystopian School Atmosphere

“Amoeba” sets its story in a school environment portraying a dystopian aesthetic that is both eerie and thought-provoking. The striking use of white and antiseptic visuals refl...

We met with Remi Bonhomme, artistic director of the Marrakech International Film Festival to talk about the event, its relevance and the importance of the Arab and African film industry.

The Impact of the Marrakech International Film Festival on Regional Cinema

The Marrakech International Film Festival plays a pivotal role in elevating Arab and African cinema on the world stage. With its 22nd edition, the festival continues to highlight diverse voices and emerging talents from the region. As Remi Bonhomme points out, it serves as a vital platform for films that explore a broad range...

“Aisha Can’t Fly Away”, the debut feature by Morad Mostafa, presented at the Marrakech International Film Festival, delves into the lives of African migrants in Cairo through a blend of social realism and magical realism. This film uniquely captures the internal struggles and resilience of its characters, making it a poignant addition to contemporary world cinema.

Understanding the Inspiration

Morad Mostafa, in “Aisha Can’t Fly Away”, embarked on this project fuelled by a desire to tell stories about African migrants in Egypt, an often overlooked topic in Egyptian cinema. The film’s narrative was inspired b...

“The Love That Remains” by Hlynur Pálmason, Icelandic entry for the Oscars, is a film that captivates audiences with its subtle complexity and profound themes. From its understated beginning to its more intense and fascinating turns, this film offers a journey into human relationships and artistic exploration.We had a chat with Ingvar Sigurdsson, actor in this one and all of Hlynur Pálmason’s films, after the Marrakech International Film Festival screening.

Many Themes  and Many Layers

“The Love That Remains” explores the intricate dynamics of separated families who remain emotionally connected despite physical dist...

“El Sett”, by Marwan Hamed had its world premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival. The film is a captivating biographical portrayal that delves into the life of one of  Umm Kulthum, Egypt’s most influential singer and woman. This film offers a profound look at her journey, struggles, and impact on society, capturing her essence through compelling storytelling and artistic choices.

Understanding Umm Kulthum

“El Sett” is more than just a film about a singer; it’s a tribute to an emblem of cultural change and female empowerment in the Arab world. The movie explores her...