Hybrid Physical-Digital MIA Event Wraps in Rome

MIA—Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo wrapped this weekend after six days of live and virtual events, with the MIA Digital platform being accessed by more than 3,000 people over five days.

The organizers of MIA recorded an average of 700 attendees on site every day at Palazzo Barberini and Cinema Quattro Fontane, with the live events held under strict COVID-19 safety protocols. The 3,000 active users of MIA Digital hailed from 50 countries. The platform will remain online until February.

More than 120 new projects in development or production were presented at MIA across film, drama and documentaries. The event is backed by ANICA and APA.

Francesco Rutelli, president of ANICA, commented, “An integrated and innovative event both onsite and online with a large attendance by the whole supply chain, from producers to distributors, from television to OTT. MIA has responded to the leading priority of internationalization of our companies, and is becoming an ever crucial event on the European ecosystem.”

Giancarlo Leone, president of the APA, added, “First the Venice Film [Festival] and now the International Audiovisual Market. Our country, when we gather our efforts, can reach extraordinary goals. MIA is the first market in the world to let producers meet again and reopen the doors to large international distribution companies. Italian TV series, films and documentaries have been at the heart of a market whose numbers show that an extraordinary response was provided to a large demand.”

Lucia Milazzotto, director of MIA, added, “It has been a year of long debates within our Strategic Council, with different and sometimes opposing opinions and concerns, but that has been translated into an extraordinary collective engagement and a long term vision, which have gathered and transformed divergent orientations into a single and shared strategy. Not only numbers, but also the feedback from the industry prove the success of a hybrid MIA, which has allowed for a new experience, both for players who attended in person and those who connected to the platform. A ‘real’ and yet connected event, a truly ‘blended’ experience, that has allowed the industry to alternate and integrate both onsite and online activities, thus giving many more business and meeting opportunities. This was possible thanks to the strategic approach of ANICA and APA, the trust of institutions and sponsors and the extraordinary efforts of a big team, made up of various and complementary skills and competencies and driven by a generous enthusiasm.”

The event included awards presented on Saturday. The Premio ViacomCBS International Studios winner was Miss Fallaci Takes America. The Nat Geo Award for best pitch went to Darkside, The Quest for Dark Matter Detection. Other winners included Dalva for the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award and Ebba for the Arte Kina International Prize.