Elena Rossi The traditional meeting between the candidates and the winners of the David di Donatello and the President of the Republic took place in the civil and informal atmosphere that characterizes the presentation day before the awards ceremony, scheduled for the following evening on Rai 1. The morning of the May 5, 2026 It featured a mix of jokes, practical proposals, and institutional interventions, with the presence of the Minister of Culture and several productions competing for awards.
The event was opened by actor and host Claudio Bisio, who used irony to break the ice while also touching on concrete topics: from the most nominated films to the systemic issues that the Italian industry continues to raise. Alongside him was President Sergio Mattarella and the minister Alessandro Giuli they emphasized the cultural and occupational value of the Italian cinema.
Claudio Bisio's ironic opening
Bisio began with a joke that recalled the media debate involving director Paolo Sorrentino and his film The grace, nominated in numerous categories. While joking about the so-called "Minetti case" and the press leaks, the actor avoided turning the meeting into a political rally: "I promise I won't say anything about the cuts and the awarding criteria," he explained lightheartedly.
Then he proposed, half-jokingly, a practical solution: a law that would require cutting ten minutes from each film to avoid post-screening criticism.
The ten-minute proposal
The joke about the length of films took the form of a pragmatic-comic provocationAccording to Bisio, the producers' habit of saying "it would have worked if it were ten minutes shorter" could be eliminated by the law. The idea, while satirical, has opened a space for reflection on the relationship between art, the market, and audience expectations without delving into the technical details of production or editing.
The role of institutions and the sector's concerns
At the meeting the minister Alessandro Giuli reiterated the need for a reform of the system: «I inherited a labyrinthine system", he said, calling for greater transparency and rigor. Giuli spoke of abuses in tax credit and distortions that would have caused imbalances that could be assessed in more than 1 billion euroThe minister then cited the documentary dedicated to Giulio as a symbol of injustice. Regeni, All the evil in the world, remembering that it is unacceptable not to support films that have a civil and investigative function.
Numbers and priorities
In the context of financing, the debate brought up concrete figures: the following were discussed: 696 million allocated for 2026, of the 626 million of the current year after the reinstatement and the transition, initially planned, to 606 million before the corrections. Mattarella read the document from the industry associations with interest and called for "dialogue and open discussion," recalling that the movies it is also work for over 100 thousand people.
Recent results and an atmosphere of awards and applause
Despite the tensions, the budget data show positive signs: 2026 saw an increase in 32,7% in the takings and of the 33% in attendance, a trend that was also confirmed in the first quarter of 2026, partly thanks to commercial successes such as Good way by Checco Zalone, who attracted over 9.537.000 spectators. Among the films in competition, The cities of the plain by Francesco Sossai guide with 16 nominations, followed by The grace with 14 e The tasters with 13.
Awards and personalities
During the morning, mentions also emerged for important personalities: the director of photography Victor Storaro He was announced among the recipients of a special David along with Gianni Amelio and Bruno Bozzetto. Piera Detassis, president of the David Awards, called for "transforming protest into dialogue" and finding shared rules for the future of the sector.
Side reactions and lighthearted moments
There were also moments of lightheartedness: Bisio recalled with irony the filming of Benvenuto President Some of the events took place in institutional settings and joked about his gaffes. Shortly afterward, live on RaiUno, Antonella Clerici responded to a joke on È sempre mezzogiorno, insisting that she shouldn't "get angry" and emphasizing her respect for President Mattarella, adding a touch of good manners to the morning.
The day at the Quirinale therefore mixed satire, calls for public responsibility and concrete concerns: a framework that puts the debate on how to support the national cinema without sacrificing transparency, worker protection, and artistic freedom.