Italy’s MIA market celebrates a decade of innovation and collaboration

A global stage for TV, film, and animation

Italy’s MIA market, a premier event dedicated to international TV series, animation, feature films, and documentaries, is gearing up for its 10th edition. This year, the event will showcase 60 projects from 90 countries, offering a platform for creators to connect with potential partners. Scheduled from October 14-18, the pre-Mipcom event promises a rich lineup of panels and keynote speakers, reflecting the evolving landscape of the global entertainment industry.

Keynote speakers and industry insights

This year’s MIA panels, to be announced later this week, will feature high-caliber keynote speakers. Among them are Sony Pictures Television Studios president Katherine Pope, “Ripley” producer Clayton Townsend, and Canadian-American producer Odessa Rae, known for her work on the Oscar-winning documentary “Navalny.” These speakers will provide valuable insights into the industry’s current trends and challenges.

A surge in project submissions

Market director Gaia Tridente revealed a significant increase in project submissions this year, with 600 entries compared to roughly 500 last year. This surge indicates a robust creative drive among producers, who are developing new stories despite the changing investment strategies of streaming platforms. Tridente noted that producers are increasingly seeking to retain more rights for their shows, making co-productions a viable strategy for securing larger budgets.

Adapting to industry changes

Chiara Sbarigia, president of Italy’s Audiovisual Producers Association (APA), emphasized MIA’s commitment to attracting top international professionals. “MIA and APA have always aimed to bring together producers and commissioners to explore innovative trends in scripted series, both in content and format,” Sbarigia stated. This vision continues to guide MIA as it adapts to the industry’s ongoing changes.

Rome as a hub for audiovisual innovation

Francesco Rutelli, the outgoing president of Italy’s motion picture association ANICA, highlighted MIA’s success over the past decade. He praised the event for creating a B2B platform for the entire audiovisual sector, a concept that not everyone believed in initially. Rutelli also commended MIA for its flexible model, which has adapted to the industry’s evolving needs, noting that an industrial revolution has taken place over the past 10 years.

Success stories from MIA

Over the past decade, more than 100 projects launched at MIA have made it to the screen. One notable example is the Swiss period drama “Winter Palace,” which will soon be available on Netflix. Another high-profile project is the series “Miss Fallaci,” which chronicles the 1958 journey of iconic Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci to the U.S. This series, the first Italian original produced for Paramount Plus, will debut at the Rome Film Festival this month.

Exciting new TV series

Among the 14 TV series from 12 countries being pitched at MIA is the U.S.-Japan co-production “The Aosawa Murders.” Based on Riku Onda’s book, the series explores the 1973 murder of 17 people who consumed poisoned sake and soft drinks delivered as a gift to the wealthy Aosawa family. The show is produced by Takeo Kodera from Kadokawa Corporation and Jonathan Kier’s L.A.-based Upgrade Productions.

From the U.K., “Castle of the Eagles” tells the story of several Allied Forces generals’ escape from a prison camp set up by Benito Mussolini in a Tuscan castle. The series, based on Mark Felton’s book, is penned by Oscar-nominated writer Jeff Pope and produced by industry veteran Xavier Marchand.

Another standout project is “Bat Out of Hell,” which portrays legendary Canadian Formula 1 driver Gilles Villeneuve. Written by “Blackberry” filmmakers Matt Johnson and Matthew Miller, the series is produced by their company, Zapruder Films.

Feature films and animation highlights

Feature films seeking partners at MIA include “Fish,” a Venice-set fantasy directed by Carlo S. Hintermann, and “The Place of Eternal Summer,” a coming-of-age drama set in Sicily and directed by acclaimed screenwriter Maddalena Ravagli.

The animation projects on display include “Gainsbourg: Rue De Verneuil,” a film about the life of French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. Produced by France’s Logical Pictures and The Jokers Lab, this project promises to captivate audiences with its unique storytelling.

Documentaries with a purpose

The documentary lineup features a trio of climate-related projects: “Black Carbon-Native Science,” which explores the impact of microplastics in Greenland’s ice; “Inferno – Climate Crisis in the Mediterranean”; and “Seveso – The Italian Chernobyl,” produced by Italy’s Fandango. These documentaries aim to raise awareness about pressing environmental issues.

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