MIA 2025 set to showcase unprecedented innovation and collaboration in the global audiovisual industry
The 11th edition of the Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo (MIA), Rome’s premier audiovisual industry gathering, is scheduled to take place from October 6 to 10, 2025. Directed by Gaia Tridente and supported by ANICA and APA, MIA promises an extensive programme featuring over 80 events. These include panels, conferences, keynotes, round-tables, and networking activities aimed at providing a comprehensive platform for professionals across the animation, documentary, television, drama, and film sectors.
MIA has firmly established itself as a vital B2B event that serves as a dynamic hub for the global audiovisual market. It provides an exclusive space, both physical and digital, for producers, buyers, commissioners, and other industry professionals to engage with curated content and cutting-edge discussions. With more than 100 projects to be showcased—comprising 44 titles in five showcases and 62 projects in the Co-Production Market—the event is a significant launching pad for international collaborations and business deals in various audiovisual genres.
The Animation section will focus on current challenges such as audience-centred storytelling, digital distribution, and the pivotal role of public broadcasters in European co-productions. A notable highlight includes a pioneering panel with children’s commissioners from major European public broadcasters like the BBC, France Télévisions, RAI, RTVE, and HR/ARD, discussing editorial priorities and co-production strategies. Key addresses, such as one from Anna Taganov of the BBC on building IP visibility in the digital age, underscore the innovative spirit driving the division. The AnyShow, an international animated content showcase nearing completion, will feature 11 titles, including four Italian productions, emphasizing Italy’s sustained creativity in this field.
In the realm of documentaries and factual content, MIA strengthens its reputation as a hub for non-fiction professionals. The “Italians Doc It Better” showcase presents ten world premieres, while the International Factual Forum highlights innovative formats spanning genres like true crime, food, history, and adventure. Emmy-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny’s keynote and a case study on the heist documentary The (Second) Italian Job: Stolen, Heist of the Century illustrate the market’s commitment to high-quality storytelling. Additionally, a panel on theatrical distribution challenges, featuring distributors and festival leaders from across Europe, sheds light on the evolving strategies needed for successful cinema releases of documentaries.
Drama remains a pivotal MIA focus, gathering top commissioners, producers, and executives. For the first time, “The Nordic Blueprint” panel unites heads of drama from NRK, YLE, SVT, and DR, revealing that despite reported global market declines, Nordic broadcasters increased commissioning by 24% in early 2025, showcasing the resilience and appeal of their regional model. Sessions addressing story packaging and European drama inclusivity—featuring well-known industry players and discussions around representation beyond quota requirements—underscore the sector’s evolution towards diversity and innovation. The GreenLit showcase further presents six upcoming international series, demonstrating MIA’s role in advancing future-focused audiovisual projects.
The film sector will spotlight the contemporary challenges and strengths of Italian cinema. Key discussions, such as “Italian Cinema at the Crossroads: A Reality Check” and “Indie Voices in a Shifting Industry,” aim to dissect the current cinematic landscape. A financing session dubbed “Follow the Money” will convene financiers and producers from diverse markets including the USA, Europe, and Brazil, while a focus on independent film distribution strategies highlights efforts to enhance circulation of auteur films. In parallel, the work-in-progress series, C EU Soon, will feature seven European titles from post-production, showcasing the creative breadth of cinema currently in development.
A fresh addition to the 2025 program is the Book Adaptation Forum, which seeks to bridge the gap between publishers, agents, and producers by facilitating discussions around the adaptation of unpublished novels, providing new avenues for content development.
Innovation remains a core theme with MIA XR and specific sessions addressing artificial intelligence (AI) in audiovisual production. Workshops led by industry experts from Largo.ai and sessions on blockchain integration for financing and rights management highlight how emerging technologies are reshaping the sector. The creative use of AI is further exemplified by a VFX case study presented by the EDI Effetti Digitali Italiani team, focusing on the film The Last Image.
Other notable events include the presentation of the seventh Report on the Italian Audiovisual Industry by APA president Chiara Sbarigia, followed by a high-profile panel featuring representatives from RAI Fiction, Mediaset, Netflix, and Prime Video Italy. ANICA will also host a session exploring audience behaviour and cinema-going trends, while DiversiFind will present its first-year assessment and introduce the DiversiCheck tool, designed to measure representation levels in content. Sustainability gains prominence with the panel “AnImpact: A Common European Approach to Sustainable Animation,” organised by Green Film, Ecoprod, and CineRegio, stressing the increasing importance of eco-conscious production practices.
MIA not only offers a rich slate of content and discussion but also fosters significant networking opportunities. With dedicated physical spaces such as the historic Palazzo Barberini and new digital platforms, the market facilitates meetings, showcases, and lounges that support relationship-building and co-production deals. This concerted focus on matchmaking and collaboration underscores MIA’s growing influence as a strategic platform for the international audiovisual ecosystem, championing artistic freedom, cultural diversity, and innovative storytelling.