ROME – Cinecitta Europe’s largest film studio aims to re-launch Italy as a superpower in the movie industry. U.S. President Donald Trump proposed new tariffs, making it a potential threat to the film industry globally.
Cinecitta, referred to as “Hollywood on the Tiber,” is a historic film studio founded by the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini. Recently approved a five-year plan backed by the EU’s post-COVID recovery fund, which includes initiatives to build new high-tech sound stages and boost production capacity by 60%.
“We want to lead the game,” said CEO Manuela Cacciamani. “Cinecitta must be a factory that works at full capacity… with excellence as a minimum standard.”
The company is looking for a revenue of 51.9 million euros ($58.8 million) by 2029, almost double the amount of revenue generated in 2024, and aims to turn a 4.3-million-euro net profit after suffering a devastating loss of 11.6 million euros last year.
The Trump Administration said that they would be imposing a 100% tariff on movies outside of Hollywood to save Hollywood from ”a very fast death”, but no further details were issued on how the levy would work.
The tariff plan could potentially disrupt the current industry set-up, as big U.S. productions greatly rely on the services of studios around the globe that can provide expertise, with cheaper costs and a good location scenery.
According to Cinecitta, Italy’s film production tax credit of up to 40% is “among the most competitive worldwide,” which has helped draw in international hits from last year like “Emilia Perez” and the papal thriller “Conclave.”
Among the projects scheduled for filming this year at Cinecittà is Mel Gibson’s “The Resurrection of The Christ,” a sequel to his 2004 film “The Passion of The Christ.”
Gibson serves as one of Trump’s “Special Ambassadors” in Hollywood, alongside actors Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone, to help keep the U.S. film industry living. His upcoming film, currently being shot in Italy, will be impacted by the imposed tariffs.
