The tenth edition of MIA concluded October 18 with a 10% increase in attendance over 2023, with over 2800 participants from 60 countries around the world.
Over 600 projects were submitted this year for consideration within the Co-Production Market and Pitching Forum. This marked a 20% increase on 2023 with the countries of origin increasing in number from 80 to 90.
MIA also grew on social media with a 30% increase in followers on Instagram and 16% increase on LinkedIn.
Organisers stress how, over the past ten editions, more than 100 ‘Made in MIA’ audiovisual works have been produced after their participation in the MIA co-production market, “a testament to the success of the selection capacity and the important opportunities that the market offers in terms of research for co-producers and international partners (financial, distributive and creative).”
Gaia Tridente, Director of MIA comments: “Thanks to its strong identity and credibility, MIA has now earned an important place in the agendas of international operators. It is a unique curatorial market, a strategic player in the co-production market and a fundamental engine for the financing, distribution and circulation of works and talents. It represents the needs of an entire ecosystem made up of the different industries and genres that make up the audiovisual sector, offering dedicated activities for the different formats, taking into account both distribution in theaters and consumption on TV and platforms. It is a mirror of the transformation of the audiovisual sector, capable of capturing and anticipating changes with particular attention to technological innovation for the creative industries.”
The MIA Development Award for Outstanding Doc Project went to Reborn-Perfect Love by Giovanni Conte and Francesco Pascucci, produced by Nicola Maiello and Camilla Gazzola (Amartia Film), which explores the phenomenon of reborn dolls, hyper-realistic reproductions of new-borns who are treated as if they were real children.
The jury, composed of Björn Jensen, Managing Director, Ginger Foot Films (Germany); Pamela Martinez, CEO, Limonero Films (Spain); Myriam Weil, Chief Documentaries Officer & Producer, Federation Studios (France) stated: ”Perfect Love is a documentary about reborn dolls, so realistic that they can fool anyone into believing they are real new-borns. The film follows several women and their emotional bond with these dolls, with an empathetic gaze. It is a strong, emotional and very personal presentation on an untold story.”
The Gedi Visual Award went to La vita che mi diedi/Pulling My Own Strings, produced by Anna Frandino for Officina 38, and directed by Alessandra Cataleta (Italy). The film concerns Anna Cuticchio, the most famous Sicilian puppeteer who, before being celebrated as a “pioneer”, was labelled “a heretic, a good-for-nothing, a rebel, a madwoman.” Anna’s life is a compendium of all the small and large battles of Italian women over the last sixty years. The title was selected in Italians Doc It Better showcase of the Doc & Factual section of the MIA.
The jury was composed of Paolo De Michele, Deputy Director, Gedi Visual; Francesco Fasiolo, Editor-in-Chief, Gedi Visual; Laura Pertici, Editor-in-Chief, La Repubblica. Their citation reads: “We were struck by the strong female personality of the protagonist, Anna Cuticchio, the first Sicilian ‘pupara’ in a traditionally male world, who fought against prejudice through her art but also with her life itself.”
The film will be supported in its promotion and distribution activities by the GEDI Group. GEDI Digital will be the film’s media partner and will accompany it throughout its distribution and festival journey.
