Gianni Massaro, the Italian entertainment lawyer who heads the European production fund Eurimages, has been appointed president of Anica, Italy's national film body, replacing film producer Fulvio Lucisano.

"My top priority will be to bring into Anica the other associations of the audiovisual sector, who, while they operate within a friendly climate, are still outside Anica," said Massaro, referring to Italy's independent film producers association, API, and television producers association, APT, who both broke away from the association several years ago because of diverging policies.

Massaro, who will start his two-year term next January, added: "I hope the new [Silvio Berlusconi] Government will show interest towards the main problems of the audiovisual sector, and will liaise with Anica."

Massaro is currently also the president of CICCE, the committee for European film and television producers, and a board member of numerous Italian, European and international organizations.