Georgia Brown, director of European Amazon Originals for Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Studios have announced a €1 million ($1.18 million) commitment to support the Italian entertainment industry through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The donation is being made to the emergency COVID-19 fund, Scena Unita, created by a group of Italian artists and celebrities — including popstar Fedez, comedian Carlo Verdone, rapper Achille Lauro, actor Sabrina Ferilli, and singer Gianna Nannini — with the support of Amazon Prime Video as the main donor. The fund is open to further donations from other companies.
“The COVID-19 crisis has affected workers in the entertainment industry in Italy and across Europe,” said Georgia Brown, director of European Amazon Originals for Prime Video in a statement. “This is a difficult, challenging time and we are aware of the hardship many people are going through. As we gear up for production restarting on a number of Amazon Original series in Italy and across Europe in the coming months, we’re committed to continuing to support the creative community through this crisis.”
Amazon’s initiative follows a similar relief effort from Netflix towards Italy’s industry, announced in April for the same amount. Amazon Studios’ Italian originals include the local-language version of “Celebrity Hunted” and the documentary “Ferro” about popstar Tiziano Ferro. Amazon Studios has also announced several upcoming scripted series, including “Bang Bang Baby,” a mob drama with a female lead, “Vita da Carlo,” starring the hugely popular Carlo Verdone, and diamonds’ heist skein “Everybody Loves Diamonds.”