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Film News: Government cuts threaten movie bodies — Italy’s film community is up in arms over Euro zone belt-tightening measures that threaten several of the country’s top cinematic entities, including the Centro Sperimentale Film School, the National Film Archives and Cinecitta-Luce.

Film News: John Scheinfeld, Michael Palin to celebrate Sellers — Charlie Kaufman will be feted by Italy’s Biografilm Festival, where Yank documaker John Scheinfeld (“The U.S. vs John Lennon”) and former Monty Python member Michael Palin will also be on hand to celebrate the memory of Peter Sellers with some rare Sellers footage.

Film News: Company takes Lars Von Trier’s ‘Melancholia’ — BIM Distribuzione has snapped up Italo rights to Cannes Palme d’Or winner “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives,” capping a relatively active Cannes Market for Italian buyers, despite their cautious approach.

Film News: ‘Overworld’ based on best-selling books — Italy’s Colorado Film is developing “Chronicles of the Overworld,” a live-action 3D trilogy based on a bestselling series of books translated into 14 languages, in one of the most ambitious attempts to launch a European fantasy franchise.

Film News: ‘Vincere’ filmmaker joins trio on Turin-based company — In a move that mirrors Italy’s rapidly changing industry landscape, “Vincere” producer Mario Gianani and three partners have launched Wildside, a Turin-based film and TV company catering to a broad spectrum of auds.

Film News: Celebs come out for the ‘Letters’ premiere — A ffection abounded for all things Italian at the May 11 preem of Summit’s “Letters to Juliet” at the Chinese Theater. “Who doesn’t love Italy?”

Film News: Stuart Wurtzel designs in paradise — “Give me a break!” That’s how production designer Stuart Wurtzel’s friends back in the States would react when he called to complain about minor annoyances during the filming of “Letters to Juliet” in some of Italy’s most picturesque tourist spots.

Film News: Indies aim to draw auds from homegrown hits, 3D blockbusters — In Italy, foreign indies are getting slammed by the country’s mania for 3D and the strong showings of quality local titles.

Film News: Fox’s ‘Marmaduke’ to have local premiere — Susan Sarandon will be a special guest at Italy’s Giffoni Film Festival for children, an event where the jurors are kids.

Film News: Filmmaster taps Granata to head office — A new film law in Italy has been luring international co-productions to the country.