ROME — The Italian Culture Ministry is undergoing significant changes after its head of the film department stepped down amidst revelations tied to a controversial tax credit scheme benefiting an American director implicated in murder charges.
The ministry announced Nicola Borrelli’s resignation with minimal details, expressing gratitude for his contributions without specifying a reason. However, the timing coincides with the arrest of Francis Kaufman on the Greek island of Skiathos.
Authorities detained Kaufman, who had been operating under the pseudonym Rexal Ford, following a European arrest warrant issued by Italy. The charges against him include the murder of a woman and her infant daughter, found deceased, unclothed in Rome’s Villa Pamphili park last June. Kaufman, pending extradition, asserts his innocence but declined to provide further statements without legal counsel, as reported by state broadcaster RAI.
The ministry disclosed that Kaufman, under the alias Ford and through his company Tintangel Films LLC, procured nearly $1 million in tax incentives for “Stelle della Notte” (Stars of the Night), a project never actualized. This financial backing is a facet of Italy’s efforts to stimulate film production domestically. The ministry has handed over pertinent documentation, which outlines the tax credits granted in 2023, to Italian prosecutors.
During a Senate session, Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli emphasized the ministry’s cooperation with the ongoing investigation, recounting his involvement during police operations on June 27. Addressing chronic issues within the department, Giuli condemned practices of exploiting funds for non-existent projects, declaring an end to “fantasy films.”
Borrelli’s resignation marks the second notable departure in Italy’s cinematic sphere this week. Previously, Chiara Sbarigia vacated her role at the helm of the iconic Cinecitta film studio. In her formal address, Sbarigia cited a desire to focus on her presidency of Italy’s audio-visual producers association, countering accusations of a conflict of interest shared by media and lawmakers—a notion both she and Giuli refute.
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