Akademik

(Experimental Center for Cinematography.) National film institute and film school. Instituted in 1935 with Luigi Chiarini as founding director, the Centro Sperimentale was one of the first concrete initiatives taken by the Fascist regime to help revive Italian cinema. In 1937 the Centro began publishing its official journal, Bianco e nero, and in 1940 moved to its purpose-built location on the Via Tuscolana, opposite Cinecitta. After some disruption during the later part of the war, which saw part of its resources confiscated and dispersed, the Centro was reinstated and in 1949 also took on the function of housing a national film library. In 1965 the Centro's library, named after its first director, was also officially charged with retaining a copy of the script of every national film. In 1997 legislation transformed the Centro into a foundation and officially changed its name to the Scuola Nazionale di Cinema (SNC, National Film School). In 2004, following a concerted campaign of protest, further legislation restored its original name without abrogating its function as both a national film school and film library.

   The Centro remains Italy's most prestigious film institute. Teachers and graduates of the Centro over the years have included all the major directors, actors, and technicians of the Italian film industry.

   Historical Dictionary of Italian Cinema by Alberto Mira