Titanus was the first film studio in Italy: it made the history of our cinema and brought joy to audiences around the world. Founded in Naples in 1904 as a distribution company under the name of Lombardo Film, it shifted into production in 1916 and was renamed Titanus in 1928 before gradually moving to Rome. The glorious studios founded by Gustavo Lombardo are now 120 years old. To celebrate this anniversary, Casa del Cinema will inaugurate its summer programme at the Ettore Scola Outdoor Theatre with a first cycle of masterpieces from the Titanus catalogue. The programme will offer screenings (admission is free) of seven films that bear witness to the growing importance of the production company on the Italian and international scene after World War II, chaired by Goffredo Lombardo, Gustavo’s son. The man had a remarkable capacity to intercept the talent of rising directors such as Federico Fellini (Roma), Mario Monicelli (L’armata Brancaleone, Risate di gioia), Dino Risi (L’ombrellone) and Valerio Zurlini (La ragazza con la valigia), giving voice furthermore to new talents with a great future such as Ermanno Olmi (Il tempo si è fermato) and Elio Petri (L’assassino).
The collaboration between the Fondazione Cinema per Roma and Titanus, chaired today by Guido Lombardo, Goffredo’s son, will continue in the coming months with a series of titles that will enrich the programming of Casa del Cinema and that of other outdoor theatres that the Fondazione will set up throughout Rome, from Parco degli Acquedotti to Tor Bella Monaca, from Corviale to Santa Maria della Pietà.
“Titanus 120” will continue until the nineteenth Rome Film Fest (16-27 October 2024) with screenings, documentaries, restorations and exhibitions to be held in the main venues of the event.