PRESS RELEASE
Fare Cinema (Making Films) – The Italian Movie Industry
“Movie set-design speaks Italian – A talk with Italian movie set-designers Alida Cappellini and Giovanni Licheri”
In partnership with Msheireb Museums
Doha, Qatar, September 23rd, 2018:
Spotlights were focused on the professions of the world of cinema in the prestigious framework of Bin Jelmood House at Msheireb Museums (MM), where the Embassy of Italy to the State of Qatar organised in partnership with MM the conference “Movie set-design speaks Italian – A talk with Italian movie set-designers Alida Cappellini and Giovanni Licheri”.
An event to promote the genius and creativity of Italian movie set-designers: this is the spirit motivating the first edition in Qatar of “Fare Cinema (“Making Films”) – The Italian Movie Industry”. The programme, launched by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the framework of the first Week of the Italian Cinema in the World, is aimed at promoting “Made in Italy” quality film production abroad. 100 testimonials of the Italian cinema sent to 100 capitals – among them Doha – to celebrate Italy’s excellent cinematography.
“Italy has a great tradition of quality cinema – said the Ambassador of Italy to Qatar, H.E. Pasquale Salzano- and its contemporary film production is supported by the Italian Institutions as an integral part of the promotion of ‘Brand Italy’ throughout the world”.
“Fare Cinema” in Qatar – continued the Ambassador – has the purpose to let our Qatari friends know more about Italian film-making industry, enhance the interests of the public and engage qualified industry operators”.
“On the occasion of the first edition of Fare Cinema– concludes His Excellency – we have decided to focus especially on the important role played by movie set-designers in our cinematography: the choice of beautiful locations and magnificent architectures, the attention to furniture and style, are essential elements that contribute to make the Italian film production unique in the world ”.
To open “Fare Cinema” in Qatar, the Embassy of Italy has invited Alida Cappellini and Giovanni Licheri, two Italian movie set and stage designers who have dedicated their professional life to interior design and furniture, applying their expertise to the fields of cinema, theatre, television programmes and art exhibitions. Alida and Giovanni already worked in Qatar in 2011 for “Sea’s secrets”, a television and theater production about the history of Qatar throughout music, dancing and showings.
In the presence of representatives of Qatari cultural institutions, diplomats, distinguished guests and members of the Italian community in Doha, Alida and Giovanni explained by showing their works how movie set-design is crucial for successful films and how this contributes significantly to distinguish the Italian film-making industry abroad.
Mr. Hafez Ali, Msheireb Museums Director said: “Italy is one of the famous countries recognized for its creative art, design and films. We are pleased today to host this event to promote the Italian film industry and to build bridges between cultures and communities. This cultural destination will always serve as a forum to raise awareness of high-quality experiences from across the world, and to enhance the image of Qatar as the land of civilisations that is open to all cultures and backgrounds”.
After the intervention of the two Italian movie set-designers, Dr. Cherif Amor, Chair and Professor of design at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCU) in Qatar, explained the importance of training young future movie set-designers on the impact of behavioral sciences and lighting on creating set design and told what VCU does in terms of programs, courses and activities for students in Qatar. Professor Amor also introduced the activities planned in the framework of “Fare Cinema” at VCU. Alida Cappellini and Giovanni Licheri hold on September 24th a lecture on the vibrant relation between light and movie set-design to make quality films.
The speech of the Ambassador Salzano:
Excellences, fellow Ambassadors, distinguished guests and friends, cari connazionali,
Buonasera, Masa al khair, good evening,
Welcome to “Fare Cinema” (“Making Films”) dedicated to the Italian film-making industry, an initiative promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in more than 100 capitals, among them Doha. We are here tonight to talk about Italian movie set-design, such an essential element in our film production, which decisively contributes to the success of our cinema in Italy and abroad.
The Italian cinematography is well known and appreciated all over the world. Who doesn’t know the iconic symbols of our cinema: actors such as Anna Magnani, Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni; movie-directors such as Vittorio De Sica and Bernardo Bertolucci, and the youngest generation, Roberto Benigni, Paolo Sorrentino and Gianfranco Rosi.
At the Academy Awards, Italy is the country that has won most Oscars in the foreign language film category and was awarded a great number of Oscars in many other crucial categories. The Venice International Film Festival is one of the biggest event to promote international cinema in all its forms, both as art and entertainment and as industry. The famous studios of Cinecittà in Rome are home to the most experienced set-designers and builders in the world, talented artisans that have passed their skills and secrets down through several generations.
Movie set-designers do not appear in front of a camera. They work behind the scenes to create a true and realistic environment in which the plot unfolds, to build the atmosphere of the story, and to fill in the space with feelings and emotions. This event aims to explaining the crucial role played by them: the choice of beautiful locations, of magnificent architecture and original pieces of design, the attention to furniture, details and style, which make the “Made in Italy” cinema unique in the world.
Thanks to the creative genius of our committed and dedicated “experts of the trade”, our culture, with its long history, language and tradition, is largely diffused abroad. Italy has a great tradition of quality cinema and its contemporary film production is supported as an integral part of the promotion of “Brand Italy” to enhance a positive image of our Country all over the world.
“Fare Cinema” is part of the integrated promotion plan of the “Italian Way of Life”, which features cinema as a priority.
Here in Doha, the Embassy of Italy is implementing this year an intense cultural programme and we are ready to do more together with Qatari cultural institutions, in the fields of arts, music, museums and cultural heritage protection, and to embrace the increased demand of Italian cultural presence in Qatar that – as H.E. Sheika Mayassa has highlighted – is growing higher and higher.
Before starting, let me express my gratitude to Msheireb Museums for being our partner in the “Fare Cinema” initiative and for hosting the event in this wonderful location.
Let me thank finally all our friends for coming tonight and for being part of this innovative and creative cultural project.
Grazie, Shukran!
