“The Night Watch” and “Death in Your Eyes” win at the MIA market in Rome

Dutch drama series The Night Watch was among the big winners at the MIA Market in Rome on Friday, taking home the MIA Development Award for Outstanding Drama Project as the growing industry event concluded its 10th edition in the Eternal City.

The show was one of a quartet of projects that took part in the MIA Co-Production Market and Pitching Forum and were recognized by juries of international industry experts. They were joined by “Death in Your Eyes” by director Guillermo de Oliveira, which won the award for best film project, the documentary award winner “Reborn – Perfect Love” by directors Giovanni Conte and Francesco Pascucci and the Belgian-Polish film. France co-production “Big Bang Parade” in the animation category.

This year’s co-production market and pitching forum saw more than 600 projects take part, an increase of 20% compared to 2023, while there was greater geographical diversity than ever before, with 90 countries represented – an increase of 12.5% ​​compared to the last 80 represented Nations Year.

With over 2,800 participants from 60 countries, the number of participants also increased by 10% compared to the 2023 edition.

“MIA continues to grow and has established itself as a high-profile event capable of engaging the entire audiovisual industry,” said Francesco Rutelli, President of ANICA (National Association of Cinematographic, Audiovisual and Digital Industries). “In its tenth year, it reaffirms its ability to attract the attention, interest and resources of international actors to the national system, thus contributing to the growth of the ability of Italian companies to develop dialogues and collaborations necessary for the further development of the sector “Employment and products are essential.” and the soft power of our country.”

“This edition of MIA has successfully attracted and expanded international audiences, a result that, as APA, strengthens the voice of producers in the audiovisual sector,” added Chiara Sbarigia, President of the APA (Audiovisual Producers Association). “The internationalization of the industry depends both on our sector’s ability to modernize and train new professionals and on our regions becoming more competitive. I am confident that the path we are taking and the work we are doing will lead directly in this direction.”

Written by Steven Friedman and produced by Edvard van ‘t Wout for Continent Studios, The Night Watch is a story of magic, friendship and secrets hidden beneath the city of Amsterdam. The judges said the project “represents a bold and deeply compelling concept that is sure to captivate audiences around the world,” adding: “This show has the potential to entertain at a time when in a world in need of escapism and humor.” that can feel overwhelming at times. It has the ability to create common ground for audiences of all generations by providing shared experiences based on quality storytelling.”

“Death in Your Eyes,” from director Guillermo de Oliveira and producers Silvia Fuentes (Sétima) and Nuria Landete García (Sideral Cinema), draws on the childhood memory of a famous news case to explore the dynamics of power at different levels of a world where violence and money are the only currencies in circulation. The jury praised how it “subtly constructs a narrative that combines the principles of film noir with a deep psychological exploration” and “presents a complex portrait of characters losing their humanity in a world dominated by greed, corruption and violence “.

The animation award winner “Big Bang Parade” is an episodic film produced by Annemie Degryse for Lunanime and directed by Nienke Deutz, Sine and Imge Özbilge, Karolien Raeymaekers, Hermien Verstraeten, Britt Raes and Martyna Koleniec. It was co-produced by Momakin and Les Productions de Milou. In the film, two children open a secret chest containing only a bag of marbles and discover that each marble contains a tiny growing world inhabited by surprising and colorful creatures. The judges said they “found the stories to be authentic to children’s imaginations and experiences,” adding that the project “provides opportunities for new female directing talent in our industry.”

“Reborn-Perfect Love,” which won the Documentary Film Development Award, is directed by Giovanni Conte and Francesco Pascucci and produced by Nicola Maiello and Camilla Gazzola (Amartia Film). It explores the phenomenon of reborn dolls, hyper-realistic replicas of newborns that are treated as if they were real children. The jury praised the film’s makers for a “strong, emotional and very personal portrayal of an untold story.”

At the end of the 10th edition, MIA market director Gaia Tridente said the event is going from strength to strength.

“Thanks to its strong identity and credibility, MIA has now secured an important place on the agenda of international operators. “It is a unique curatorial market, a strategic player in the co-production market and a fundamental engine for the financing, distribution and circulation of works and talent,” she said.

“It represents the needs of an entire ecosystem made up of the different industries and genres of the audiovisual sector, offering specific activities for the different formats, taking into account both distribution in cinemas and consumption on television and platforms.” It is a reflection of the transformation of the audiovisual sector and is able to capture and anticipate changes, with particular attention to technological innovations for the creative sectors.”