Piccolo America Foundation's Growing Influence Sparks Controversy in Rome

The Piccolo America foundation, founded to protect abandoned cinemas in Rome, has become a powerful cultural force, securing exceptional public funding while clashing with local authorities. Led by 34-year-old Valerio Carocci, the foundation has built close ties with the municipality of Rome, the Lazio region, and the Vatican, organizing popular film festivals and managing the successful Cinema Troisi. In July 2026, Carocci threatened to run a civic list in the next municipal elections after accusing officials of pressuring him to drop opposition to the conversion of the Cinema Metropolitan into a commercial center. The foundation received €250,000 from the city and €300,000 from the region for its Cinema in Piazza festival, bypassing competitive bidding. Critics, including author Christian Raimo, question the foundation's role in gentrifying Trastevere. The Metropolitan project, which allocates over 80% of space to retail, violates a regulation requiring 75% for cultural use; Piccolo America has filed an appeal. The foundation's high-profile supporters include Robert De Niro, Jane Campion, and Martin Scorsese. The TAR ruling on the Metropolitan is pending.