The “Hollywood on Tiber” plans a spectacular return, despite the tariffs announced by Trump

The largest film studio in Europe, Cinecitta, aims to relaunch Italy as power in the film, even if the rates proposed by US President Donald Trump for foreign productions shadow the prospects of the industry globally, reports Reuters.

Cinecitta, the homonymous company that manages the historical film studio in Rome, has approved a five-year plan this week, supported by the EU post-Covid recovery fund, which includes the construction of new high-tech sound scenes and the increase of production capacity by 60% by 2026.

“We want to lead the game,” said General Manager Manuela Cacciamani. “Cinecitta must be a factory operating at maximum capacity … with excellence as a minimum standard.”

Founded in 1937 under the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini, cinecitta became known as the “Hollywood on Tiber”. He has hosted over 3,000 films, attracting world -renowned directors such as Martin Scorsese, Federico Fellini and Francis Ford Coppola.

The company targets revenues of 51.9 million euros ($ 58.8 million) in 2029, almost double the amount of 2024, and aims to obtain a net profit of 4.3 million euros, after a loss of 11.6 million euros last year.

Donald Trump has announced 100% rates for US movies

President Donald Trump said he will impose a 100% customs duty for the movies outside the United States to save Hollywood from “a very fast death”, but provided little about how the tariff will work.

The tariff plan threatens to disturb the current structure of the industry, in which the big American productions are based on studios services around the world, which can offer expertise, lower costs and impressive landscapes.

The drastic rates imposed by Trump were temporarily reinstated by a federal court of appeal on Thursday, one day after they had been blocked by a commercial court, which had decided that the president had exceeded his authority.

Cinecitta monitors “most carefully” developments in rates, Cacciaamans told Reuters.

“The hope is that two historical powers of world cinema (Italy and the USA), which owe so much to each other, continue to cooperate,” said the general director of cinecitta.

The tax loan of up to 40% of Italy for film production is “among the most competitive worldwide”, according to cinecitta, contributing to some of the international successes last year, such as “Emilia Perez” and the papal thriller “Conclave”.