With a new government supportive of the industry, and with cinema attendances rising, Italian cinema is in a healthy state, as the films screening this week at Prague testify. Moreover, some of the hottest talents of this new Italian cinema are in town to promote a selection of the best of their recent work.

Leonardo Pieraccioni, the 30-year-old director, writer and star of I laureati (The Graduates), is here for a screening of his film, which was a smash hit in Italy. Made for just US$500,000, this twenty something comedy has taken US$10 million at the Italian box office. Pieraccioni is working on his next project, a film called Il ciclone (The Hurricane), another comedy, to be shot in Florence with a top Spanish actress set to star.

One Italian filmmaker who doesn't have to worry too much about distribution is Silvano Agosti, the director of L'uomo proettili (The Human Cannonball), screening tomorrow. Not only did he write, direct and edit the film, he also owns a cinema in Rome which screened it for three months, with the auteur taking the tickets and showing customers to their seats.

Nick Thomas

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