BNL BNP Paribas Group and SACE: € 1.5 million to fund the tv-film productions of BIBì Film

The productions financed include The Confessions, film directed by Roberto Andò with Toni Servillo, Connie Nielsen, Daniel Auteiul, Lambert Wilson and PierFrancesco Favino.

BNL BNP Paribas Group and SACE have concluded a € 1.5 million financing operation in favor of BIBÌ Film, a TV-film company specialized in the development and production of films and documentaries in conjunction with European public television networks and international broadcasters.

The purpose of the loan, issued by BNL — a leading financer of the film industry for 80 years — and guaranteed 50% by SACE, is to sustain the costs for the placement of BIBì Film TV-film productions in the European markets and, in particular, was used for the production and foreign distribution of the film Le Confessioni, directed by Roberto Andò. The film has in international cast (including Toni Servillo, Connie Nielsen, Daniel Auteuil, Lambert Wilson and PierFrancesco Favino) and was co-produced with RAI Cinema and France, with the contribution of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities.

"We strongly believe in the potential of internationalizing our companies, especially those operating in the film industry, an Italian excellence recognized and appreciated worldwide," declared Paolo Alberto De Angelis, Asst. General Manager of BNL and Head of the bank's Corporate Division.  "By supporting the production and marketing of works like Le Confessioni, we can promote the international recognition of our talented directors, actors, producers and crews, who represent an asset for our country in both artistic and economic terms."

The theme of internationalization and access to foreign markets is increasingly central to the thinking of the audio-visual community: "Productions like Le Confessioni represent a challenge," stated Angelo Barbagallo, sole administrator of BIBì Film TV,"and we are especially pleased that BNL BNP Paribas Group, of which we are longtime customers, and SACE, with which we have begun collaborating more recently, have decided to support us in this instance by proposing modern, effective forms of credit that will certainly be appreciated by independent Italian producers.”

"We are proud to have given our financial guarantee for Le Confessioni, a film that epitomizes quality Italian cinema," commented Simonetta Acri, SACE's Domestic Network Manager. "The film industry has been rejuvenated and found new life in producers, writers, directors and actors of unquestioned excellence, once again offering a point of reference on the international scene. With this initiative we are confirming our enthusiastic support of the industry's growth and potential."

BIBì Film, formed by Angelo Barbagallo, five-time winner of the Davide di Donatello as best producer and founder along with Nanni Moretti of the production house Sacher Films, has been operating since 1997 and has collaborated from the start with RAI, producing various films for them including La vita che verrà, La meglio gioventù, Sanguepazzo, La città ideale and Viva la libertà.

Since 2013 the production company has also used the factoring services of SACE, enabling it to mobilize over € 1.1 million in receivables.