DRMumbai: Volare Awards 2018 – which recognises the efforts of Bollywood personalities in promoting Italy – was launched with much fanfare in Mumbai. The gala event was organised by the Italian State Tourist Board (ENIT) as part of the Mumbai roadshow held at The Trident, Nariman Point. Italy kicked off the 3-city roadshow in New Delhi on February 7, followed by Mumbai on February 9 and travelled to Kolkata on February 12.
Seven celebrity artists and 15 film producers, including Deepika Padukone, Imtiaz Ali, A R Rahman and Sajid Nadiadwala, were honoured. Italian Film Commission (IFC) President Stefania Ippoliti said, “IFC is trying to enhance cooperation between the two film industries and is mulling agreements to ensure the wider release of Indian films in Italy as well as host production. A brand new website ItalyforMovies has been launched to support the initiative.
Films like ‘Rockstar’ and ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’ were shot extensively in Italy.” Bollywood’s tryst with Italy dates back to 1962 when the legendary Raj Kapoor shot ‘Sangam’ there. A R Rahman’s directorial debut ‘Le Musk’, a virtual reality film, is being shot in Italy too. Stefani Costanza, Consul General of Italy, was the chief guest for the Roadshow in Mumbai. She was accompanied by Salvatore Ianniello, Representative-India, ENIT; Fabio Bigotti, Country Manager – India, Alitalia; Mauro Mariani, Director, ICE (Italian Trade Agency); Stefania Ippoliti, President, Italian Film Commission (IFC); Anoop Kanuga, Chairman, TAAI Tourism Council, and Pradip Lulla, Vice President, TAFI. “In 2015, 4,27,000 tourists from India travelled to Italy. This is the latest official data that we have,” Salvatore Ianniello told the gathering.
Alitalia’s Fabio Bigotti said, “Since October 2017, Alitalia has been operating direct flights daily between Delhi and Rome, and this has really helped many Indians to travel to our country.” The Italian tourism delegation included Relais & Chateaux, MSC Cruises, Rail Europe, Absolute Hospitality Services (AHS), Made in Uvet, Alitalia, Alidays Italy, Active Holiday Company, Costa Cruises, Eurobus Network, ISCRA, Avantgarde India (Villa Spalletti Trivelli) and Volando Tours.
