Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos on Thursday made the trek to Rome to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the streaming giant’s launch in Italy. To mark the occasion Sarandos announced what he called “a unique” partnership with Rome’s Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia (CSC) film school to refurbish and reopen Rome’s Cinema Europa Movie Theatre.
The Eternal City’s historic Cinema Europa, which had been shut down during the pandemic, will get a makeover and become a space open to education, research, and the promotion of the national film heritage. The CSC will oversee the management and programming of the theater that will become a new home for film students and movie buffs of all ages.
Located near Cinecitta Studios in Rome, the Centro Sperimentale is not only the oldest film school in Western Europe, but also one of the most competitive in Italy. Students are selected through a rigorous audition process to enroll in such courses as production, direction, animation, screenwriting and other disciplines taught by top figures in international cinema. Among its graduates are director Michelangelo Antonioni and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, both Oscar winners.
Netflix is supporting the project partner with a €4 million ($4.6 million) sponsorship within a five-year agreement. The investment will cover part of the renovation and management costs of the premises as well as various cultural and educational activities. The streaming giant will participate in launching what is being described as a new “laboratory” for cinema in the Italian capital.
The Cinema Europa opening is expected to take place in late 2026.
More to follow