Apulia continues to shine in the spotlight of the silver screen and does so in one of the most prestigious settings in the world: the 82nd International Film Festival. This morning, in the Tropicana Room 1 of the Excelsior Hotel, Apulia Film Commission and Regione Puglia presented the panel “Cinema in Puglia. Funding, Opportunities and Bifest,” a meeting that brought together institutions, producers, filmmakers and journalists to talk about the new season of Puglia’s audiovisual industry, including investments, opportunities and internationalization.
A moment that also sealed the Apulian presence among the Venetian premieres: the competition film Un film fatto per Bene by Franco Maresco, dedicated to Carmelo Bene, and the international eight-episode series Un Prophète signed by Enrico Maria Artale. Two titles that, in different ways, confirm Puglia’s role as a crossroads of stories and talent.
“This is a renewal of an important appointment with operators in the world of cinema,” said Anna Maria Tosto, president of Apulia Film Commission. “Venice is the ideal place to create connections and open new paths. For us it is a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and information, with the common goal of continuing to tell the magic of the screen.”
New tools and funds for cinema in Apulia
The heart of the meeting was devoted to concrete opportunities for productions that will choose Apulia as the set of their future projects. At the forefront was the relaunch of theApulia Film Fund, the main tool for supporting films, series, documentaries, short films and animation works. Alongside this, the launch of the Cine-Voucher Market Puglia 2025, a pilot measure funded with 100 thousand euros from Regional Law 42/2004, was announced.
The new tool is designed to support Apulian SMEs in the audiovisual sector, covering promotion and internationalization expenses. “It will be a counter call,” explained director Antonio Parente: applications will be evaluated in order of arrival until funds are exhausted. It is a concrete way to support those who want to grow and face global markets.”
Great attention is also paid to the Social Film Production Con il Sud project, promoted together with Fondazione Con il Sud, which brings film companies and the Third Sector into dialogue. The 2025 edition, open from Aug. 6 and with a deadline of Nov. 3, allocates a total of €500,000 to make ten works that tell the South through the prism of social stories.
Audience development and the Bifest 2026
Alongside funding tools, Apulia Film Commission aims to grow audiences. The Cinema Addiction initiative, which offers weekly quality programming in Apulia’s major cities, will continue in the coming season.
But the biggest anticipation is for Bifest 2026, scheduled to take place in Bari from March 21 to 28. Introducing it was Oscar Iarussi, artistic director of the kermesse: “Bifest will confirm its Meridian vocation, with the international Euro-Mediterranean Meridiana competition. We want to bring into dialogue the talents and cinematographies of the Global South, giving voice to stories that have deep roots but universal gazes.”
Alongside the competition, there will remain sections dedicated to Italian cinema, master classes with major international protagonists and a rich program of screenings, meetings and side events.
European projects and international collaborations
The Venetian panel was also an opportunity to present two important European projects of which Apulia Film Commission is the lead partner. The first is REEL – A cinematic journey through Italy and Croatia, financed by Interreg Italy-Croatia: a more than 2 million euro initiative that involves the production of eight short films inspired by theOdyssey, made by young Italian and Croatian directors, and the promotion of cine-tourism between the two sides of the Adriatic.
The second is FRAME – Fostering Regional Advancement and Market Expansion of Audiovisual SMEs in the South Adriatic, funded by Interreg IPA South Adriatic, with a budget of 865 thousand euros. The goal is to strengthen audiovisual SMEs from Italy, Albania and Montenegro through a cross-border network, a co-development fund for co-productions and workshops for screenwriters. “Cinema,” stressed Claudio Polignano, Interreg IPA South Adriatic Managing Authority, “is a flywheel of cultural and economic growth, capable of stimulating youth creativity and intercultural dialogue.
The collaborations do not stop with Europe. This fall, Puglia will host filmmakers and producers from China as part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Italian Cultural Institute of Shanghai, the Shanghai Film Distribution and Exhibition Association, the Fondazione Apulia Film Commission and the Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana Treccani. A partnership that opens new perspectives on one of the most dynamic markets in the world.
Puglia between cinema and taste
The lifestyle touch could not be missed. To close the day, theItalian Pavilion of the Excelsior hosted the event “Puglia on Screen – Taste and Set from the Heart of the Mediterranean.” A meeting between cinema and gastronomy that told the story of the region through its flavors and production excellence.
“Apulia is cinema, taste, landscape and identity,” recalled Agriculture Councillor Donato Pentassuglia. “Bringing our food and wine heritage to the Venice Film Festival means giving voice to a culture that combines creativity, history and tradition.
A clear message: Apulia is not only a natural set for successful films and series, but also a destination capable of offering unique experiences, from food and wine to cultural tourism, with an attractive force that speaks to international audiences.
A vision combining tourism and audiovisual
The Venetian day highlighted how Puglia is working to combine cultural policies, tourism development and international promotion. “Film productions have increased and the supply chain is significant,” stressed director Gianluca Nardone. “This is proof that cinema and tourism can grow together, enhancing territories and communities.
The image that emerges is that of a laboratory region, which knows how to attract investment and talent, but also to tell its own story through stories, images and flavors. An Apulia that at the Venice Lido wanted to reiterate its ambition: to continue to be a protagonist, on screen and in reality.
