According to an article by Andrea Biondi published in Il Sole 24 Ore, the Italian audiovisual industry, while continuing to be a sector of major importance for the country’s economy and culture, is experiencing a slowdown that could jeopardize the achievements made in recent years.
As highlighted by Chiara Sbarigia, President of APA (the Italian Audiovisual Producers Association), the industry is currently facing a period of substantial stagnation, marked by a loss of momentum that is affecting its ability to invest, innovate, and develop new projects.
In an interview with the newspaper, Sbarigia referred to several industry studies, including research conducted in collaboration with eMedia, which will be presented at MIA. According to the study, the value of the Italian audiovisual sector is expected to reach approximately 17 billion euros in 2025. While these figures are still provisional, they point to only marginal growth compared with the 16.3 billion euros recorded in 2024.
Despite this, the sector’s economic contribution remains substantial. A study conducted by OpenEconomics for APA estimates its overall impact on the Italian economy at 23.5 billion euros. The social return is also noteworthy, with a Social Return on Investment (SROI) indicating that every euro invested generates 4.6 euros in benefits for society.
The audiovisual industry also continues to be one of the main pillars of Italy’s cultural sector, accounting for nearly 50% of its total value.
However, significant challenges remain, particularly those linked to regulatory uncertainty surrounding tax credits and reductions in incentive rates. These issues are affecting relationships with commissioners and clients, as well as the profitability of production companies.
This situation is having a direct impact on the sector’s investment capacity, leading to a gradual reduction in resources allocated to new projects, intellectual property development, and creative experimentation, with potential consequences for the entire production value chain.
The issue of funding remains central. Approximately 50 million euros are reportedly still missing from the audiovisual tax credit budget, and the possible depletion of available resources could result in a halt to production activities during the second half of the year.
In this context, there is also growing concern that an increased reliance on imported content could not only weaken the sector economically, but also diminish the country’s ability to produce original works and preserve its cultural identity.
