This year the Italian film industry is joining forces to present a unified face in Cannes, based in the I-Club on the first floor of the Hilton Hotel on the Croisette. This was where the old Palais du Cinema operated until the 1980s, and where Directors' Fortnight is held today. In spite of the (unfortunate) absence of Italian titles in the main competition at this 60th Cannes Film Festival - though Italy retains its second place in the list of all-time Palme d'Or winners - the participation of Italian artists and professionals is richer than ever. In fact Ermanno Olmi, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani (in Cannes celebrating the 30th anniversary of their Palme d'Or for Father and Master), Daniele Luchetti, Riccardo Scamarcio and Elio Germano have already confirmed their presence on the Hilton terrace.
 
The whole Italian film industry - whether public, private or independent - together with the country's most important cultural institutions have chosen the Hilton as their base. The partners are: Cinecittà Holding Group, also celebrating an important birthday this year - the 70th anniversary of Cinecittà Studios; ANICA (the Italian Film, Audiovisual and Multimedia Industries Association); A.P.I. (Independent Authors and Producers Association); the RomeFilmFest; Giornate degli Autori - Venice Days; the National Museum of Cinema in Turin; Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia - CSC; RAI Cinema; SNGCI (Italian Cinematographic Press Association); Coming Soon Television; Cinecittà News; Cinematografo magazine; and the first international partner, The Hollywood Reporter.
 
I-Club is also being used as an HQ for 5 exporters (Filmexport Group, Intramovies, Minerva Pictures, Movietime and Variety Communications) and an assortment of Regional institutions. These are led by Mediateca Regionale Toscana (the Tuscany Region Media Archive), the Tuscany Film Commission and the Fondazione Sistema Toscana making substantial contributions to the club's "entertainment" and communications side, joined by Filas - Lazio Region organizing film industry meetings.
 
Services offered by I-Club:
- a business center with courtesy bar covering an area of 6,500 square feet (only accessible with an I-Club pass)
- a space for meetings and conferences
- offices and stands for "Made in Italy" companies and products
 
Events and gala evenings can be hosted both inside and on the terrace, with menus inspired by Italian and Mediterranean flavors. An entire kitchen, complete with utensils, ingredients and chefs, has moved to Cannes from Venice - the city proud to hold the record for hosting the world's first ever film festival - and its chefs Luca Pradel and Mario Dalena are back for a third year. This time they are launching a challenge (luckily gastronomic) on the Croisette, promising a bitter-sweet mélange of wonders... but they're not revealing any more.
 
The I-Club design, created by talented architect Beppe Riboli, is also still top secret. Dubbed the "Magician of the Night" (having created more than 200 discos and entertainment venues worldwide) and manager of Fabrica with Oliviero Toscani, he promises a surprise that "will make heads turn on the Croisette". Lights, sounds and images for those who want to get a bird's-eye-view of the Festival, while also being seen on the most beautiful terrace in Cannes (running 260 feet along the sea front).
 
Already confirmed events include the promotion of Mio fratello è figlio unico (at Un Certain Regard), the launch of new Italian titles at the Marché du Film, meetings for developing co-production projects and festival presentations (RomeFilmFest, Venice Days, Taormina, Giffoni, Viareggio, Capalbio...).
And the budget? "Very contained", assures I-Club's organizer, RSB Comunicazione di Roma.
"All  participants pay a share calculated in proportion to their financial potential and the space used. The rest will be covered by banqueting and sponsorship. The total budget is less than 350,000 Euros in real terms, with the equivalent of 120,000 Euros in product exchange (namely visibility and services for magazine advertising space, or the supply of technology or foodstuffs). Less than 30% of the total effective budget comes from public funding (through the partners)".
The sponsors (in collaboration with Carry On and CLAP) are: Kartell and Floss for the interior and exterior furnishings; Acqua San Pellegrino; Acqua Panna; Associazione Produttori di Olio di Bagno a Ripoli; Bisol Vini; Bonaventura Maschio; Borgomolino; Caffé Aiello; Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano; Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma; Consorzio per la Tutela del Formaggio Casatella Trevigiana; Fabbrica del Panforte; Figulì - Foglie di Visnadello Parma Alimentare; Pasta Garofano; Rigoni di Asiago; and Salumi De Stefani.