The 12th edition of MIA (Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo) closed October 23, having “reaffirmed its role as a key reference point for the international audiovisual industry,” organisers write. The event attracted 2,800 professional attendees from 64 countries, “confirming the market’s international reach.”
630 projects (up 26% on 2025) from 83 countries were submitted in 2026, from which 104 projects from 43 countries were selected to take part in the Co-Production & Gap Financing Market and Work-In-Progress sessions.
Alongside these was an extensive programme of events, featuring over 40 conferences, talks and meetings held across 7 official venues of MIA, which transformed the historic Via Veneto and Piazza Barberini into a district dedicated to the international film and audiovisual industry. There were 85 international speakers, with women accounting for over 40%.
MIA’s social media presence is growing, organisers confirm, with follower numbers over the past year rising by 9.9% on Instagram and 6.02% on LinkedIn. The event’s website also recorded growth, with an increase of 365,000 new users with an international profile. There was also strong interest from international and local media, with over 160 accredited outlets from 15 countries (EMEA, Middle East, USA, LATAM, Asia).
The MIA Development Award for Outstanding Documentary Project went to Loving Ika, directed by Emilio Di Stefano and Fabian Sigurd, produced by Daniéla Frykstrand, Gunilla Film AB (Sweden).
The jury commented: “We award the prize to Loving Ika for addressing a highly topical and urgent subject: an encounter with artificial intelligence intertwined with deeply human and personal issues, at a time when technology is increasingly entwined with our most intimate emotional vulnerabilities. We also wish to recognise the filmmakers’ commitment to building an authentic relationship with their subjects and earning their trust. It takes great courage to tackle one of the most controversial issues of our time. We award a special mention to Bleaching Nemo for drawing on the universal familiarity of the character Nemo to convey an urgent message about the climate crisis. Through original storytelling and its potential to reach international markets, the film brings ecological issues of fundamental importance to a wide audience.”.
A Special Mention went to Bleaching Nemo, directed by Jason Brooks and produced by Pierangelo Pirak for Pomona Pictures (Italy, United Kingdom, United States).
Of the 12th MIA, Alessandro Usai, President of ANICA commented: “With this year’s edition, MIA has undergone a twofold transformation: on the one hand, and most importantly in terms of content, by seeking to engage ever more closely with the debate concerning our audiovisual and film sector, with a particular focus on the relationship between our industry and finance; on the other, in terms of format, by taking over for a few days one of Italy’s iconic locations in the global cinematic imagination: Via Veneto. We believe this edition has once again highlighted how MIA can serve as a reference point for discussion, analysis and networking, supporting our industry’s business and its dialogue with the world.”
Chiara Sbarigia, President of APA stated: “For its 12th edition, MIA has renewed its format to tell the story of the audiovisual world: a world of creativity, businesses and international partnerships. A world facing new challenges and profound changes. As producers, we claim this narrative as our own: we are businesses that produce “Originals”, with large audiences awaiting their release on television and streaming platforms. And MIA is where we present ourselves to the world.”
Gaia Tridente, Director of MIA added: “We close this edition of MIA knowing that we have taken an important step in the market’s evolution. In an audiovisual industry undergoing profound transformations that are redefining the models for content development, production, financing and distribution, we wanted to deliver a stronger, more ambitious and renewed edition, capable not only of keeping pace with these changes, but also of helping to interpret their dynamics and open up new perspectives. Above all, these days have shown us the strength of an international community embracing this evolution with curiosity, engagement and confidence. We have opened up new spaces for discussion, brought different professional worlds into dialogue and created encounters that can turn into concrete opportunities. For me, this is the responsibility of a market these days: to go beyond connecting supply and demand and help create the conditions for the future of our industry.”
