RAI, Lucisano pact for 120 films

Library includes movies by Brizzi, Zeffirelli, Risi

By NICK VIVARELLI

ROME — RAI Trade and prominent Italo producer Fulvio Lucisano have inked a volume deal under which the sales arm of pubcaster RAI will handle world sales on 120 titles from Lucisano’s IIF shingle, including current Italo box office champ “Ex.”

Besides “Ex,” a romantic comedy by Italo wunderkind Fausto Brizzi that just bowed locally to a boffo $4.6 million, the IIF library includes other recent Brizzi hits and a slew of Italo comedies and vintage works by cinema Italiano masters such as Franco Zeffirelli, Dino Risi, Liliana Cavani and Lina Wertmuller.

The deal bucks the current trend of most Italo producers doing biz with sales companies outside Italy. It was unveiled at the EFM where “Ex” is having its market preem.

“RAI Trade is competent and motivated, which is why we are confident they will maximize the value of our product,” said Lucisano.

“This pact with one of Italy’s most important independant producers marks a further step in our efforts to boost the value of Italian cinema,” said RAI Trade managing director Carlo Nardello. “Now we hope other Italian producers will follow suit.”

Lucisano’s IIF, which also makes high-profile telepics, currently has a “Memories of Anne Frank” skein in the pipeline, though world sales on that project are being handled by Nu Image.