Production is picking up pace at Rome’s Cinecitta Studios, which will be hosting two feature films in August and September with international names.

French director Philippe Garrel’s latest Burning Summer (Un Ete Brulant) will set up production in August. The film is about a tormented painter who commits suicide when his wife abandons him. Monica Bellucci stars.

Aurelio De Laurentiis’ Filmauro is moving ahead on the third installment of local block office franchise Love Manual (Manuale D’Amore) directed by Giovanni Veronesi, which is set to include a performance by American actor Robert De Niro.

At the recent Taormina Film Festival, where De Niro picked up the Taormina Arte Award, the actor told audiences he had seen Veronesi’s Love Manuel and “liked it.” However at that time, it was not known he was in talks for the project.

Veronesi’s films have been among the most successful local films in recent years. Manuale D’Amore was first seen in 2005 and cashed in $18m (Euros 14m) while in 2007 Manuale D’Amore 2 – Capitoli Successivi grossed $24m – (Euros 19m) together the films gross $42.2m (Euros 33m)

In the third installment, De Niro is to be featured in one of four loosely related love stories.

Over the years, De Niro has taken roles in Italian films - including Sergio Leone’s last film, Once Upon A Time In America and Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1900.

Cinecitta has also hosted two local Italian films this summer – Amici Miei – Come Tutto Ebbe Inizio (My Friends – How It All Started), also from Filmauro as well as Apartment in Athens (Appartamento ad Atene)

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