Luigi Freddi
Encyclopedia
Luigi Freddi was an Italian journalist and politician, principally notable for being the first vicesegretario of the Fasci italiani all'estero, and later one of those most responsible for Italian political cinema in the second half of the 1930s and the start of the 1940s.
As a futurist
and a legionario fiumiano, he edited Il Popolo d'Italia
and in 1920 was one of the founders of the student avant-guard within the fighting Fascist party and became director of the review Giovinezza.
He was then head press officer of the PNF (1923-24), vicesegretario of the Fasci italiani all'estero (FIE) (1927) and vicedirector of the Exhibition of the Fascist Revolution
.
In 1934 he was made head of the General Directorate of Cinematography, the Fascist organisation controlling cinema. Freddi aimed to create an entertainment cinema on the American type, imitating the commercial Hollywood model instead of the Soviet propaganda model. The Cinecittà
studios (of which he became a director) and the Centro sperimentale di cinematografia
film school were founded under his direction.
As a futurist
Futurism (art)
Futurism was an artistic and social movement that originated in Italy in the early 20th century. It emphasized and glorified themes associated with contemporary concepts of the future, including speed, technology, youth and violence, and objects such as the car, the airplane and the industrial city...
and a legionario fiumiano, he edited Il Popolo d'Italia
Il Popolo d'Italia
Il Popolo d'Italia , was an Italian newspaper founded by Benito Mussolini on November 15, 1914, as a result of his split with the Italian Socialist Party. Il Popolo d'Italia ran until July 24, 1943 and became the foundation for the Fascist movement in Italy after World War I...
and in 1920 was one of the founders of the student avant-guard within the fighting Fascist party and became director of the review Giovinezza.
He was then head press officer of the PNF (1923-24), vicesegretario of the Fasci italiani all'estero (FIE) (1927) and vicedirector of the Exhibition of the Fascist Revolution
Exhibition of the Fascist Revolution
The Exhibition of the Fascist Revolution was a show held in Rome at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni from 1932 to 1934. Opened by Mussolini on 28 October 1932, it had 4 million visitors....
.
In 1934 he was made head of the General Directorate of Cinematography, the Fascist organisation controlling cinema. Freddi aimed to create an entertainment cinema on the American type, imitating the commercial Hollywood model instead of the Soviet propaganda model. The Cinecittà
Cinecittà
Cinecittà is a large film studio in Rome that is considered the hub of Italian cinema.-History:The studios were founded in 1937 by Benito Mussolini and his head of cinema Luigi Freddi for propaganda purposes, under the slogan "Il cinema è l'arma più forte"...
studios (of which he became a director) and the Centro sperimentale di cinematografia
Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia
The Centro sperimentale di cinematografia was established in 1935 in Italy and aims to promote the art and technique of cinematography and film....
film school were founded under his direction.