#Rome’s MIA Market Boss on Exploring “Creative Possibilities” of Technology and What Is New This Year

Rome’s MIA Market has become one of the most important events on the schedule of International producers and developers. Aside from its market-oriented aspect, MIA aims to be, first and foremost, a place where the most influential people in the audiovisual sector can meet. 

The goal for this year’s edition, which opened on Monday and runs through Friday, Oct. 13, is to expand the scope and increase the event’s range and offerings.

As per usual, content is the starting point. For this reason, further visibility and resources have been allotted to the MIA XR section that explores and delves into the technological innovations in the movie and TV industries, ranging from special effects to virtual reality.

The same vision to enrich and enhance the content offered has been extended to the animation subdivision, which launched last year with success. “We wanted to try and explore the creative possibilities that technology can give producers,” said MIA Market director Gaia Tridente.

Framed by the historic Palazzo Barberini in Rome where the MIA Market found its home, between the VR installations, the various set-ups and historical rooms, the space is truly impressive even at first glance. Guests welcomed this year in this space dedicated to technology include Marvel VFX supervisor Jake Morrison.

In addition to putting a spotlight on the future, Tridente emphasized that it was also important to stick to the path traced in previous editions, maintaining the market’s four pillars: movies, dramas, animation and documentaries.

What is new for this year’s edition? Among other things, an attempt to introduce proper forums dedicated to factual entertainment. Another fundamental aspect this year will be the MIA Buyers’ Club, focused on movie distribution in theaters. Plus, a new subdivision dedicated to projects in development, “Comin’ Up,” will be introduced. Here, Tridente said the attempt will be made to predict what projects are going to be completed and distributed in the months following the event.

Co-produced projects will likewise receive much visibility and focus, thanks to an entire dedicated floor within Palazzo Barberini. Many of this year’s main guests are seasoned female producers, such as Nicole Clemens from Paramount and Marge Dean from Skybound Entertainment. Representatives from the Scandinavian, Spanish and Italian markets will also discuss European productions for Netflix.

“This is the embodiment of MIA Market: paying attention to the present as well as the future,” emphasized Tridente. For this reason, she explained, even smaller players from all over the world will be given considerable space. “We want to represent the whole world,” she highlighted.

Animation in particular is going to be one of the key content areas in focus. “When we launched our subdivision last year, we wanted to explore this form of expression in its entirety, first of all,” said Tridente. “And I believe we’ve succeeded in engaging the most important players. The future of animation is going to be essential for the growth of the entire industry.”

The Hollywood strikes involving screenwriters and actors have not, she says, affected this year’s planning. “We hope that these issues will be solved soon and that the value of all workers in this industry will be acknowledged. MIA Market is not a festival, therefore it wasn’t undermined by these events,” explained Tridente.

And she emphasized that the 2023 edition of the MIA Market will continue to push its international reach and flair, facilitating encounters amongst all sorts of parties, and not merely with Italian producers and institutions.