Amsterdam - 12. September 2008 - Panasonic is proud to announce that Italian movie director Mirko Locatelli chose the Varicam AJ-HDC27HE for the realisation of the movie “Il Primo Giorno d’Inverno”, which was premiered at the 65th Venice International Film Festival. The movie was produced by Milan-based Officina Film, in cooperation with Deneb Media, and was presented in the Orizzonti section of the festival as the only completely Italian production. The movie tells the story of Valerio, a teenage loner plotting revenge against those who torment him, but finding only pain and despair.

“We were driven by the desire to create a movie that was not the typical Italian cinema, but owed something to the styles of French and Belgian movies, which present the gritty reality and deal with difficult subject matter,” says director Mirko Locatelli. “To shoot this movie in high-definition, we selected Panasonic’s Varicam to get the best cine image look and the best workflow in the HD post production. The quality of the imagery we have been able to produce is crucial to the sense of reality the film conveys.”

The cameras were supplied by Aurent, the Italian rental company specialising in uncompressed HD linear video productions. Shooting began in February 2008, with Aurent staff working alongside the crew to help the director and director of photography optimise the cinematographic look the Varicam provides. After shooting, the footage was prepared in Aurent’s HD laboratory for colour correction and for the final transfer to film.

“Working on ‘Il Primo Giorno d’Inverno’ has been tremendously satisfying”, said Stefano Ferri, director of Aurent, “not only because the movie was selected for the Venice Film Festival, but also because it’s the only film produced entirely in Italy in the Orizzonti section. Everyone worked very hard during the production, and every detail was refined with technical hardware chosen for its high quality and professional staff selected for their high level of technical knowledge and skill. ‘Il Primo Giorno d’Inverno’ shows the momentum of high-definition as a tool in cinema production in Italy. With its infinite resources, the Panasonic Varicam offers brilliant and natural colour — a key factor in Mirko Locatelli’s ability to achieve his artistic vision.”

More information is available at www.panasonic-broadcast.com or by phone at +49 611 235 481.

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About Panasonic
Best known by its Panasonic brand name, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of JPY 9,068.9 billion (approx. USD 90.52 billion, exchange rate USD 1=JPY 100.19) for the year ended March 31, 2008. The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE:MC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit http://www.panasonic.net.

About PBITS
Panasonic’s Professional Broadcast & IT Systems Business Unit is part of Panasonic Audio Visual and Computer Systems Europe (PAVCSE), a division of Panasonic Marketing Europe GmbH. The company is a leader in the development of video formats and core products for broadcast and professional AV, including camera-recorders, video recorders, monitors, and mixers. Panasonic’s P2 systems provide the reliability of solid-state production with immediate connectivity to existing IT infrastructures, allowing for completely tapeless workflows.