MIA (Rome) announced October 10 the winners of its 11th edition, which ran October 6-10.
The number of participants remained in line with the “highly successful” 10th edition, totalling approximately 2,800 attendees, write organisers, while the international representation continues to expand, offering a broader and more diverse geographical reach. In total, 64 countries were represented at the Rome market. “This edition highlights, above all, qualitative growth: more strategic stakeholders, more targeted meetings and programs designed to deliver concrete impact in support of creative and industrial processes. It reflects how MIA is becoming increasingly consolidated and generates added value across the entire supply chain.” organisers underline.
“MIA reaffirms its relevance and its position as a key reference point for the international industrial ecosystem,” the Rome market adds. “This mosaic of cultures, markets and perspectives confirms MIA as a diverse and international hub for connection and exchange.”
MIA continued to grow its social media presence with followers increasing by 30.5% on Instagram, 22.7% on Facebook, and 12% on LinkedIn over the past year. The official website of the event also recorded growth, with a 5.3% increase in page views and a 6.7% rise in active users, many of whom have an international profile.
This year, approximately 500 projects were submitted for the Co-Production Market and Pitching Forum. Of these, 62 projects were selected and presented, spanning Animation, Documentaries, Drama and Films. Additionally, 44 titles were selected for five showcases covering animation, documentaries, TV formats, and series, bringing the total to over 100 projects presented across MIA’s official sections, without counting the selections included in the new programs introduced in this edition.
Alessandro Usai, President of ANICA commented: “We are extremely pleased with the strong attendance figures at MIA. The numbers confirm the interest of the entire Italian and international audiovisual industry in the Market that ANICA and APA jointly created, and successfully delivered for the past eleven years. Even more encouraging is the increased participation throughout the individual days of this year’s edition, reflecting a positive response to the vertical organization of our editorial content. Equally significant is the growth in participating countries: this broader, intercontinental reach opens up new opportunities for exchange, collaboration and inspiration in both production and distribution.”
Gaia Tridente, Director of MIA added: “This edition of MIA reflects our international nature: a mosaic of countries and cultures spanning Europe, North and Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific participated in the market. We are living through a period of profound transformation: new financial balances, audience fragmentation, the redefinition of distribution windows and technological advancement. In this complex economic and geopolitical context, MIA has chosen not to retreat, but to push forward, implementing concrete initiatives for the benefit of accredited participants: from strengthening the co-production market and our industry programs (Animation, Doc & Factual, Drama, and Film), to the Book Adaptation Forum connecting publishing and audiovisual content; from XR and new technology initiatives to the dedicated vertical program on Artificial Intelligence; including training sessions, targeted networking, and market insights. This is how we turn complexity into opportunity, with Rome as the destination where stories gain momentum and shape the future.”
DOCUMENTARY AWARDS 2025
The MIA Development Award for Outstanding Doc Project was awarded to Edition 96 (Lebanon), produced by OOBconcept and directed by Ahmad Naboulsi. The jury, composed of Suzanne Biermann, Commissioning Editor, ARTE GEIE (France); Anders Bruus, Commissioning Editor, DR (Denmark); and Horia El Hadad, Senior Producer Documentaries, Al Jazeera English (Qatar), presented the award. They commented: “We were impressed by Ahmad’s project, Edition 96. His film combines a distinctive visual language with an intimate and layered exploration of gender, war, aging, and personal legacy. Through the story of Suzanne, a former tennis champion reclaiming her body and identity, Ahmad crafts a powerful commentary on resilience and self-definition within a patriarchal and war-ravaged society. The film stands out for its emotional sincerity and stylistic approach, revealing a filmmaker of strong artistic vision and human insight. While the project is still in development, its thematic depth and visual promise are clear. The jury believes that with the right support, the filmmaker has the potential to further develop Suzanne’s story and bring it to life in a way that resonates with audiences, not just locally, but around the world. We award this development grant to encourage the filmmaker’s growth and to help further the realisation of a project that celebrates quiet strength, endurance, and the reclaiming of one’s narrative.”
The Paramount New Stories Award, presented this year to a factual entertainment project, was awarded to POV-Point of View, produced by Tapeless Film and created by Luca Murphy (Italy). The jury commented: “The jury awarded POV-Point of View for its authentic and engaging representation of contemporary factual storytelling. The format stands out as a truly pure factual content, free of competition, and highly multi-platform, suitable for both digital, agile, and dynamic consumption, as well as linear programming across various channels and devices. Through camera-equipped glasses, viewers experience extraordinary moments from the perspective of young protagonists, often marginalized, fostering understanding and empathy. Its narrative versatility and strong emotional impact make it suitable for different audiences and formats. For its alignment with the Forum’s guidelines, its social potential, and its adaptability to diverse contexts, POV fully deserves this recognition.”
The GEDI Visual Award for one of the titles selected in the Italians Doc It Better showcase went to Pestiferus Lupus, directed by Ludovico SerraandLuca Jankovic, and produced by Box Vision. The jury, composed of Paolo De Michele, Deputy Director of Gedi Visual; Cristiana Felli, Executive Producer of Gedi Visual; and Francesco Fasiolo, Editor-in-Chief of Gedi Visual, commented: “In the spirit of a prize that also seeks to highlight projects exploring unique and lesser-known realities, the award goes to Pestiferus Lupus. Set in a remote Alpine village, the documentary simultaneously addresses a contemporary theme, the relationship between humans and nature – an eternal one – our ancestral fears – here embodied by the figure of the wolf, and finally a deeply ancient theme, that of age-old traditions and Latin exorcisms. A short circuit between past and present that reveals a truly little-known reality.”
The jury of the GEDI Visual Award also granted a Special Mention to Fish Don’t Close Their Eyes / I pesci non chiudono gli occhi, directed by Audrey Gordon and produced by Big Sur Srl, Oh!Pen; Artline Films and Jando Music. The jury commented: “We were deeply struck by a work that blends fiction and documentary, portraying a man who, with great sincerity and power, puts himself on the line to tell his own story: the Italian bestselling author Erri De Luca. The special mention was awarded to Fish Don’t Close Their Eyes / I pesci non chiudono gli occhi, in recognition of its intent to portray, through both fiction and documentary, the life, dreams, and struggles of the great writer.”
The 11th edition of MIA | Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo – promoted by ANICA (Italian National Association of Cinematographic, Audiovisual and Digital Industries), was chaired by Alessandro Usai, and APA (Italian Audiovisual Producers Association), chaired by Chiara Sbarigia, and directed by Gaia Tridente.
