Interview with Simone Gandolfo, President of Valle d’Aosta Film Commission at Focus London 2025

At Focus London 2025, Fred Film Radio spoke with Simone Gandolfo, President of the Valle d’Aosta Film Commission, about the fundamentals of a film commission’s role, what sets the region apart, and why in-person markets remain vital to the industry.

A Hands-On Role at the Heart of Production

Gandolfo explained that Valle d’Aosta Film Commission operates very practically, managing its own regional fund alongside national incentives and tax credits. The commission can provide up to €300,000 per production, but he stressed that financial support is only part of the job. Just as important is acting as a direct interface between productions and the territory, supporting everything from location scouting to permits for public and private spaces, and working closely with local authorities to make filming as smooth as possible.

Extreme Landscapes and Unexpected Scale

Pitching Valle d’Aosta, Gandolfo leaned into the region’s compact but dramatic geography. Within an hour’s drive, productions can access 4,000-metre-high mountains, castles spanning multiple centuries, Roman archaeological sites and highly skilled local crews used to working in extreme environments. He spoke proudly about the region’s ability to host everything from intimate indie projects to large-scale European co-productions at altitude, while also being within easy reach of major cities when needed.

From Cannes to Blockbusters — and Looking Ahead

Reflecting on recent highlights, Gandolfo pointed to “The Eight Mountains (Le otto montagne)”, which played at Cannes in 2023, and the internationally successful TV series “Rocco Schiavone”, which continues to sell strongly in the US and across Europe. He also referenced past large-scale productions, including “Avengers” and “House of Gucci”, describing the region’s approach as one of balance — supporting blockbusters, TV, documentaries and European indie cinema side by side. Looking ahead, Gandolfo highlighted strong green, HR and diversity protocols already in place, expressed optimism about AI as a tool if handled responsibly, and, on a more playful note, revealed his personal wish to welcome Darren Aronofsky or even an HBO-scale fantasy series, insisting that Valle d’Aosta could easily double for something on the scale of “Game of Thrones”.

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This interview was recorded during the Focus London 2025, in partnership with the Italian Film Commissions Association and with the support of the Italian Trade Agency.