The seventh edition of the MIA (Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo) ran from 13-17 October, both physically in Rome and online. The awards ceremony for the event took place on Saturday 16 October at the Space Cinema Moderno and was introduced by Lucia Milazzotto, MIA Market director.

In the Drama Pitching Forum, the Paramount+ Award, offered by ViacomCBS International Studios, was given to two projects. One of them was Fireworks, directed by Susanna Nicchiarelli, and written by Nicchiarelli together with Marianna Cappi, a story of love and friendship as seen by 13-year-old Marta during the Italian resistance against Nazi fascism, co-produced by Fandango and Matrioska. The other winning project was Gold War, created by Teodora Markova, Georgi Ivanov and Nevena Kertova, a sports drama set during the Cold War that mixes history, politics, and the more intimate and emotional sphere of the athletes who were subjected to mental and physical pressure to show the strength of the state machine. It is being produced by Bulgaria’s Agitprop.

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The jury also decided to award a Special Mention to Coverdale, produced by Pinball London, and created by Paula A Vaccaro and Aaron Brookner, a dark comedy that narrates the story of a boy who takes revenge against the children who bully him at school, impersonating Stalin and breathing life into his personal Russian Revolution.

For the fourth year running, National Geographic was the sponsor of the main award in the MIA DOC Pitching Forum, and this time, the NAT GEO Award for Best Pitch went to the docuseries Odyssey: Behind the Myth, directed by Massimo Brega and produced by Camilla Tartaglione for Kepach Production, which explores the myth and the theories behind Ulysses.

Here is the complete list of awards handed out at the seventh MIA Market:

Drama Pitching Forum

Paramount+ Award
Fireworks - Susanna Nicchiarelli (Italy)
Gold War - Teodora Markova, Georgi Ivanov, Nevena Kertova (Bulgaria)
Special Mention
Coverdale - Paula A Vaccaro, Aaron Brookner (UK)

DOC Pitching Forum

NAT GEO Award
Odyssey: Behind the Myth - Massimo Brega (Italy)

Lazio Frames Award
Marina Cicogna - La vita E Tutto Il Resto - Andrea Bettinetti (Italy)