On November 4, 2026, the Senate gave its final approval to the new cinema law. The vote was unanimous and marked a cross-party agreement between the government and the opposition. The measure aims to redesign the management of the Italian film industry with the creation of a Cinema Agency, and it also covers tax credits, support for cinemas and the use of artificial intelligence.
From 2029, the Cinema Agency will take over from the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual, while the Ministry of Culture will retain oversight and political and strategic direction. Alongside the Agency, a National Hub for Cinema and Audiovisual will be established, bringing together the management of the Centro Sperimentale, the National Film Library and Cinecittà.
The reform delegates the regulation of the sector to the government, including a three-year programming plan and control measures on the distribution and use of public funds. It also includes measures for independent and genre productions, for first and second works, and for young filmmakers. The text also provides for a national plan to reopen and renovate cinemas, as well as social security protections for workers in the sector. The funding relies on the recovery of 70 million euros for this year and 150 million euros for 2027.
Photo credit: Fratello.Gracco via Wikimedia Commons
