by Natalia Distefano
The deputy returns to accuse the actor and director president of the CSC: «He squanders public money: he fires professionals and then spends 24 thousand euros to rent a villa in Venice and jobs for his wife and his former producer»
Continue the fight between the deputy of the Green Alliance and the Left Mark Grimaldi and the actor and director Sergio Castellitto, president of the Experimental Center of Cinematography of Rome.
The previous one
Just a few weeks ago, last July following the huge fire that sent Hundreds of films from the Cinetaca Nazionale go up in smokethe vice-president of the Avs group in the Chamber had denounced the “crazy expenses” of the Csc: “I understand that they have been activated to consultants various assignments for over 700 thousand euros“. Not only that, according to Grimaldi the 2024 budget forecast would highlight “a deficit of approximately 800 thousand eurosalmost equal to the consultancy services activated, including that of Angelo Tumminelliwho President Castellitto is keen to point out is not his agent. He is right. It was his producer, and in any case a person with whom he has had economic relations even recently”, he declared Grimaldi. What time is it? back to the attacko.
The accusations
The MP announced that he would submit aquestion to the new minister of Culture Alexander Giuli regarding the work of Little Castleaccused – once again – of having squandered public money, even on the occasion of the recent Venice Film Festival (where the actor paraded on the red carpet with the whole family). In the crosshairs is renting a historic home a few steps from the Lido, Villa Gallo, for 24 thousand euros. «I will verify with a request for access to documents, because to date, it has not been reported in the Transparent Administration section of the site as requested by the Anti-corruption Authority», Grimaldi says. At stake is also the issue of the dismissal of the director of the Cineteca Nazionale Stefano Iachetti «who had the courage to support the 17 collaborators left at home». Grimaldi refers to the 17 technicians commit yourself to digitization of the historical heritage of Italian cinema – «which have made the Centre make a qualitative leap in computerisation and digitalisation, it is enough to remember the award-winning restoration of Nanni Moretti’s film “Here’s the bumblebee“» – to which the Experimental Center of Cinematography he did not renew his contract. With a “saving” – let’s say – of 189 thousand euros which however does not compensate for the increase in “inappropriate” expenses for various tasks.
Controversy over consultancy
And here it is burning again controversy over consultancy: «From a simple online search we learn that they spend 517 thousand euros for new tasks, not all necessary». Among these there are also the 4 thousand euros for Margaret Mazzantini, Castellitto’s wife since 1987 who on June 20th was a speaker at the conference «Diaspora of artists at war» in which the writer also took part David Grossmanalso rewarded with the same amount. And there is the 12-month assignment of Angelo Tumminelli for “activities to assist the President with reference to the institutional activities of the Foundation” (at a cost of 105 thousand euros). Finally, there are legal consultancies: “With three lawyers that cost 417 thousand eurosalthough the CSC can avail itself of the free legal aid of the State Attorney’s Office. A communications manager, Dr. Mario Sesti for 40 thousand euros. And an editorial director, Monsignor Dario Edoardo Viganòin the amount of 25 thousand euros”.
Amato (M5s): «The CSC is a job-planting plant, Giuli should clarify»
The M5S deputy also intervened on the case Gaetano Loved: «Evidently it was not enough to have carried out a real blitz to
“take over” the experimental cinematography center of Rome. Once taken, this excellence had to be squeezed out properly. There is no other explanation for the reason why under the direction of Sergio Castellitto we have ended up spending over 500 thousand euros in consultancy, with the cherry on top of 4 thousand euros for his wife Margaret Mazzantini. But the most shameful thing is that all this is happening while there are 17 technicians who are left at home. On all this we will present a question to the new minister Alessandro Giuli: It’s his duty to clarify on yet another case of a cultural excellence transformed into a armchair factory at taxpayers’ expense.”
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September 14, 2024 (edit September 14, 2024 | 16:59)