Rome’s MIA – Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo opened its 12th edition on Monday 19 October with the launch of the European Investment Hub (EIH), a new initiative intended to bring film and television professionals closer to public and private sources of capital. The announcement came during a well-attended opening session at Palazzo Barberini, placing financing, investment and the competitiveness of European audiovisual companies at the heart of this year’s market, running until 23 October.

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The event, titled “European Financing Tools and Strategic Perspectives”, was introduced by ANICA president Alessandro Usai and APA president Chiara Sbarigia. It brought together representatives of European institutions, national ministries, regional film funds and the financial sector to examine how the industry can move beyond established support schemes, and develop more diversified ways of financing productions and companies.

In her opening remarks, Sbarigia stressed the importance of getting policymakers, financiers and producers around the same table. Against a backdrop of rising production costs and intensifying competition, she argued that independent producers need stronger partnerships. Usai, meanwhile, pointed to the growing influence of finance on the audiovisual industry and the relatively small size of many Italian companies, identifying business growth as a key challenge.

Among the speakers were Giuseppe Abbamonte, director for media policy at the European Commission; Antonino Stefanucci, senior mandate manager at the European Investment Fund (EIF); Charlotte Appelgren, secretary general of CineRegio; and Enrico Vannucci, deputy executive director of Eurimages. Italian institutional participants included Giorgio Carlo Brugnoni, director general for Cinema and Audiovisual at the Ministry of Culture, alongside representatives of the Foreign Ministry, the Italian Trade Agency, and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy.

The discussions also highlighted tensions surrounding future EU funding. In detail, Abbamonte strongly criticised a proposal to cut the planned budget for AgoraEU, which will encompass Creative Europe - MEDIA, by approximately 30%, from €8.6 billion to €6 billion. The proposed reduction, part of negotiations over the EU’s 2028-2034 budget, raises concerns about future support for Europe's audiovisual industries.

Rather than operating as a newly established investment fund itself, the European Investment Hub is conceived as a forum where industry players can better understand available financial instruments, eligibility requirements and investment criteria. Supported by the European Commission, EIF, CineRegio and Eurimages, its programme spans the first two days of MIA, combining thematic round-tables, networking, and direct exchanges between producers, investors and institutions.

Its remit covers co-production funds at regional, European and international levels, equity investment, guarantees and risk-mitigation tools, as well as completion bonds and production insurance. Public-private co-investment arrangements and the potential for creative talent and established auteur brands to attract finance also feature in the discussions. The underlying aim is to make complex instruments more accessible to companies seeking to strengthen their balance sheets, retain rights and expand across borders. On Tuesday, the Hub will also offer one-to-one advisory meetings with selected financial partners.

The opening day also saw APA present a proposal for an Italian Investment Fund for the Audiovisual Sector during a session featuring producer and Anele founder Gloria Giorgianni, APA treasurer Mario Mauri, Istituto Credito Sportivo e Culturale president Beniamino Quintieri and Fondo Italiano d’Investimento SGR chief executive Domenico Lombardi, who joined remotely.

The proposed vehicle is intended to support independent audiovisual companies, help them scale up and improve their ability to compete internationally. Encompassing scripted productions, entertainment and documentaries, it would seek to attract financial partners while allowing Italian companies to retain strategic and creative control over their content. At this stage, however, APA has presented the initiative as a proposal, rather than announcing an operational fund or a confirmed capital allocation.

Headed by Gaia Tridente, and promoted by ANICA and APA, MIA unspools until Friday 23 October with its wider programme of co-production forums, project presentations, industry conversations and networking events.