Interview with Riccardo Neri, Executive Producer at Lupin Film at Focus London 2025

At Focus London 2025, we spoke with Riccardo Neri, Executive Producer at Lupin Film, about the role of production service companies, the value of face-to-face markets, and the kind of filmmaking he is most proud to stand behind.

Production Service as Long-Term Partnership

Neri introduced Lupin Film as a company operating across several areas of the industry, combining production services with original content production in documentaries, features and commercials. As a founding member of APE, the Association of Executive Producers, he explained that his work often involves supporting foreign productions coming to Italy from start to finish — from early planning and location work through to securing tax incentives and closing the financial process long after filming wraps. For him, production service is about trust and continuity, offering producers a reliable presence on the ground rather than a one-off fix.

Why Focus London Works

Reflecting on Focus London, Riccardo Neri described the event as particularly effective because of its compressed format. He praised the ability to meet film commissions and producers face to face in focused, ten-minute conversations, contrasting this with larger markets that can feel dispersed and overwhelming. He stressed that seeing booths, sitting down in person and having someone clearly explain opportunities is far more productive than emails, websites or LinkedIn messages. Among his priorities this year were the new memorandum of understanding between Italian and British film bodies, which he sees as especially important post-Brexit, and meetings linked to a future project planned for the south of France, alongside conversations with producers interested in shooting in Italy.

Pride, Cinema, and Looking Ahead

Asked about projects he is most proud of, Riccardo Neri pointed to working with Paolo Sorrentino on “The New Pope” and “The Hand of God”, describing Paolo Sorrentino as one of the most complete directors he has ever collaborated with. At the same time, he spoke with equal pride about producing the short film “Majonezë” by Julia Grandinetti, a black-and-white film shot in Albania that is currently campaigning for the Oscars after winning multiple festival awards, including at AFI. Looking ahead, Neri shared strong views on the state of the industry, expressing concern about the dominance of platforms and a belief that cinema should be experienced in theatres. While he dismissed fears around AI, seeing it instead as a useful tool, he stressed that emotion remains the one thing technology cannot replicate. Ending on a personal note, his dream collaborators include Francis Ford Coppola, Mike Figgis and Paul Thomas Anderson — filmmakers he still places firmly at the centre of his cinematic imagination.

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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.