The trade associations ANICA, ANEC and APA meet the Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Dario Franceschini to address the negative consequences for the audiovisual sector due to the Coronavirus.

ANICA President Francesco Rutelli said: “Before the outbreak of this crisis, the cinema was in an excellent condition: in cinemas, with a 22% growth compared to last year in January, the fourth result ever, and with Italian cinema products leading the box office for seven out of eight weeks since the beginning of the year. The consequences of the forced closures and the fear that has spread among audiences are dramatic: yesterday [February 27, ed] box office receipts fell by 85% compared to a year ago. We appreciate the availability of the Mibact, but the measures really must be immediate. And, in all cases where it is possible and safe, it is necessary to counteract forms of panic that hit civil society and the whole country hard”.

The meeting at MIBACT was attended by: Francesco Rutelli (ANICA), Mario Lorini (ANEC), Chiara Sbarigia (APA), Andrea Occhipinti (distributors), Francesca Cima (producers) and Marco Valerio Pugini (executive producers).