Apa, Fondo di investimento da 100 milioni per le imprese dell’audiovisivo

An Italian audiovisual investment fund of 100 million euros is set to support domestic companies, avoiding dependence on foreign groups. This marks the launch of Italy's first audiovisual investment fund, promoted by the Apa, the association of audiovisual producers, in collaboration with Deloitte. The announcement was made at the Mia - International Audiovisual Market, organized by Apa and Anica, which brings together the main players in Italian and international film and television industries in Rome.

Apa president Chiara Sbarigia emphasized that the project aims to overcome the financial fragility of many small and medium-sized enterprises, offering them a structured, autonomous, and competitive tool at a global level. Alessandro Usai, president of Anica, added that this year, Mia sought to create not only a meeting place for developing new films and series but also a platform to connect capital, projects, and companies.

The fund is expected to become operational by mid-2027, with financing from public and private capital managed by Fondo Italiano d'Investimento Sgr, in partnership with the Institute for Sport and Cultural Credit. The Mimit, represented by the head of the cabinet Federico Eichberg, also welcomed the project and expressed readiness to contribute.

The fund will inject capital into majority, minority, and capital increase shares for development. Between eight and fifteen investments, ranging from 2 to 10 million euros, are planned, with priority given to independent producers and subsequent expansion to related industry activities. The investment timeline extends over seven to ten years, with patient capital.

Three main strategies are outlined: aggregating Italian companies, acquiring stakes in foreign producers, and constructing coproductions capable of tackling high-budget projects outside the capacity of a single operator. The crucial aspect for the audiovisual industry remains the transformation of growth into assets, a complex issue due to rights dynamics, such as those between streaming services and producers.

Apa CEO Marco Bassetti highlighted the importance of maintaining rights with producers, as without them, catalogs die, companies remain undercapitalized, and reinvestment is impossible. He also noted that Europe's model has prospered where producers retain rights, as seen in the United Kingdom, and expressed ambition to explore an operational entry into the US market in the coming years.