It’s a wrap for the 11th edition of Rome’s MIA – International Audiovisual Market, which unspooled in the Italian capital from 6-10 October. This year’s gathering attracted over 2,800 professionals from 64 countries.

Around 500 projects were submitted to the Co-Production Market and Pitching Forum, with 62 presented across the categories of Animation, Documentaries, Drama and Film. Additionally, 44 titles were selected for five showcases covering animation, documentaries, TV formats and series, bringing the total to over 100 projects across MIA’s official sections, excluding selections from the new programmes introduced at this edition.

The closing ceremony saw the presentation of the MIA Development Awards, which recognise outstanding projects across the four Co-Production Market and Pitching Forum categories, alongside a number of partner accolades. Each of the main MIA Development Awards comes with a cash prize to support the future development of the winning project.

The MIA Development Award for Outstanding Animation Project was bestowed upon The Golden Butterfly by Goce Cvetanovski, produced by Makedonska Krepost, and co-produced by Blurr Stories, Technoscope Films and The G7 (Argentina/Brazil/Colombia/North Macedonia/Spain). The jury – composed of Olivier Lelardoux (Blue Spirit – Studio TF1, France), Jinsu Shin (EBS Korea Educational Broadcasting System) and Coralie Boitrelle-Laigle (M6 Group – Gulli, France) – praised the project for “showcasing the power of original IPs to bring fresh, regionally inspired voices to the global animation stage”, and encouraged further exploration of its visual and stylistic potential.

The MIA Development Award for Outstanding Documentary Project went to Edition 96 (Lebanon), helmed by Ahmad Naboulsi and produced by OOBconcept. The jury – Suzanne Biermann (ARTE GEIE, France), Anders Bruus (DR, Denmark) and Horia El Hadad (Al Jazeera English, Qatar) – hailed it as a “distinctive and intimate exploration of gender, war and personal legacy”, applauding its emotional sincerity and layered storytelling.

In the Drama section, the MIA Development Award for Outstanding Drama Project was presented to Aïnta! by Kevin Zans Ansong and Stavros Pamballis, produced by Andreas Zoupanos Kritikos, of Faliro House Productions. Jurors Jasmin Maeda (ZDF, Germany), Leo Becker (Federation Studios, France) and Caroline Hollick (UK) praised its “distinctiveness, originality and charismatic protagonist”, noting its potential to evolve into a groundbreaking and entertaining series.
A Special Mention was awarded to Guests, produced by May Jabareen (Philistine Films) and written by Saleh Saadi, for its “warmth, humanity, humour and fresh take on the family drama genre”.

The MIA Development Award for Outstanding Film Project went to I Have to Fuck Before the World Ends, directed by Andrea Benjamin Manenti, and produced by Stefano Centini (Volos Film) and Carlo Hintermann (Citrullo International). The jury – Jonas Dornbach (Komplizen Film, Germany), Céline Dornier (IPR.VC, Finland) and Emmanuel Pisarra (mk2 Films, France) – described it as “a strong proposition from an exciting new voice”, applauding its “blend of humour and tenderness” and “highly personal, original tone”.

The first-ever Sony Pictures Television Award was presented to The Roaring Banshees, staged by Paul Donovan for Deadpan Pictures, and penned by John Morton and Peter McGann. The award, handed out by Katherine Pope, president of Sony Pictures Television, celebrates the best drama project from the Co-Production Market & Pitching Forum. The jury highlighted the show’s “bold, innovative storytelling rooted in overlooked history and its compelling female leads”.

The Paramount New Stories Award, dedicated this year to a factual entertainment project, went to POV – Point of View, produced by Tapeless Film and created by Luca Murphy (Italy). The jury praised the format’s “authentic and emotionally engaging depiction of contemporary reality” and its “multi-platform adaptability”, offering immersive experiences through first-person perspectives captured via camera-equipped glasses.

The GEDI Visual Award for one of the projects selected in the Italians Doc It Better showcase was given to Pestiferus Lupus, directed by Ludovico Serra and Luca Jankovic, and produced by Box Vision. The jury – Paolo De Michele, Cristiana Felli and Francesco Fasiolo – celebrated its “poetic intersection of ancestral fears, nature and ancient rituals”.

A Special Mention went to Fish Don’t Close Their Eyes, directed by Audrey Gordon, and produced by Big Sur, Oh!Pen, Artline Films and Jando Music, for its “moving portrayal of writer Erri De Luca’s life, blending fiction and documentary with rare sincerity”.

The Screen International Award for a project from the C EU Soon showcase was granted to The Circle, directed by Valeriu Andriuta and produced by Iulia Andriuta (Amprenta Films) in co-production with Idea Film Around the World. The jury – Jakob Abrahamsson, Samuel Blanc and Gaia Furrer – commended the film for its “precise and courageous portrait of a society where power dynamics undermine the rule of law”.

Finally, the Women in Film and Television Italia (WIFTMI) Award was given to Roc and Lola, directed by Andrea Giro and produced by Primal Shape. The jury billed the animated series as “a poetic celebration of friendship, courage and diversity”.

Here is the full list of this year’s award winners:

MIA Development Award for Outstanding Animation Project
The Golden Butterfly – Goce Cvetanovski (North Macedonia/Argentina/Brazil/Colombia/Spain)
Production: Makedonska Krepost
Co-production: Blurr Stories, Technoscope Films, The G7

MIA Development Award for Outstanding Doc Project
Edition 96 – Ahmad Naboulsi (Lebanon)
Production: OOBconcept

MIA Development Award for Outstanding Drama Project
Aïnta! – Kevin Zans Ansong, Stavros Pamballis (Greece)
Production: Andreas Zoupanos Kritikos (Faliro House Productions)

Special Mention
Guests – Saleh Saadi (Palestine)
Production: May Jabareen (Philistine Films)

MIA Development Award for Outstanding Film Project
I Have to Fuck Before the World Ends – Andrea Benjamin Manenti (Italy)
Production: Stefano Centini (Volos Film), Carlo Hintermann (Citrullo International)

Sony Pictures Television Award
The Roaring Banshees – Paul Donovan (Ireland)
Production: Paul Donovan (Deadpan Pictures)

Paramount New Stories Award
POV – Point of View – Luca Murphy (Italy)
Production: Tapeless Film

GEDI Visual Award
Pestiferus Lupus – Ludovico Serra, Luca Jankovic (Italy)
Production: Box Vision

Special Mention
Fish Don’t Close Their Eyes – Audrey Gordon (Italy)
Production: Big Sur, Oh!Pen, Artline Films, Jando Music

Screen International Award
The Circle – Valeriu Andriuta (Moldova)
Production: Iulia Andriuta (Amprenta Films)
Co-production: Idea Film Around the World

WIFTMI Award
Roc and Lola – Andrea Giro (Italy)
Production: Primal Shape