The 12th edition of MIA | Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo officially opened today at Palazzo Barberini in Rome, marking the launch of the European Investment Hub, a new platform dedicated to financial instruments supporting the audiovisual industry in Europe and internationally.
MIA is promoted by ANICA (National Association of Film, Audiovisual and Digital Industries), chaired by Alessandro Usai, and APA (Italian Audiovisual Producers Association), chaired by Chiara Sbarigia, under the direction of Gaia Tridente.
The opening session, dedicated to European Financing Instruments and Their Strategic Outlook, brought together leading representatives of Italian and European institutions to discuss financial instruments and their strategic perspectives.
Introduced by Alessandro Usai, President of ANICA, and Chiara Sbarigia, President of APA, the session featured contributions from:
- Giuseppe Abbamonte, Director for Media Policy at the European Commission in Brussels;
- Antonino Stefanucci, Senior Mandate Manager – European Commission at the European Investment Fund (EIF);
- Charlotte Applegren, Secretary General of CineRegio, the European network bringing together leading regional film and audiovisual funds;
- Mauro Battocchi, Director General for Growth and Export Promotion at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI);
- Lorenzo Galanti, Director General of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA);
- Giorgio Carlo Brugnoni, Director General for Cinema and Audiovisual at the Italian Ministry of Culture;
- Enrico Vannucci, Deputy Executive Director of Eurimages, the Council of Europe’s fund supporting the co-production, distribution, exhibition and digitization of European films;
- Federico Eichberg, Head of Cabinet at the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT).
The opening program continued with the session “APA: Italian Fund for Audiovisual Industry,” featuring Gloria Giorgianni, member of APA’s General Council and producer, founder and CEO of Anele; Mario Mauri, Treasurer of APA; and Beniamino Quintieri, President of Istituto per il Credito Sportivo e Culturale. Domenico Lombardi, CEO of Fondo Italiano d’Investimento SGR, joined the discussion remotely.
A New Platform Connecting Audiovisual Companies and Investors
One of the major new initiatives of MIA 2026, the European Investment Hub (EIH) offers an extensive program over the first two days of the market, combining thematic roundtables with informal networking sessions to encourage direct exchanges between audiovisual professionals, investors, investment funds and institutions.
The initiative takes a practical approach, aiming to improve participants’ understanding of financial mechanisms, investment criteria and the frameworks governing access to funding.
Designed to facilitate access to structured financing solutions, which are becoming increasingly essential for the development, consolidation and competitiveness of creative businesses, the Hub aims to provide European and international industry professionals with a clear understanding of the financial instruments available and how to access them.
The EIH program focuses on the analysis and in-depth exploration of a broad range of financing instruments, including:
- Co-production funds: Regional, European and international funds, including EU cooperation funds.
- Equity investment funds: Funds dedicated to the audiovisual sector and the wider cultural and creative industries.
- Guarantee funds and risk mitigation mechanisms: Instruments that help manage financial risk, including those developed in cooperation with European and national institutions.
- Completion bonds and insurance instruments: Financial tools supporting the completion of audiovisual productions.
- Public-private co-investment models: Investment structures combining public and private capital, alongside regional and local financial instruments supporting production.
- Auteur brands as new financing partners.
Through this program, MIA aims to give European and international industry professionals a practical overview of available financing solutions and the requirements for accessing them.
The European Investment Hub is supported by strategic partners including the European Commission, the European Investment Fund (EIF), CineRegio and Eurimages, alongside major public and private financial institutions and institutional stakeholders.
Institutional Support for MIA 2026
The 12th edition of MIA is held with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), which promotes Italian businesses abroad and supports their international expansion.
The market also receives contributions from Creative Europe MEDIA and the Italian Ministry of Culture, as well as support from the Lazio Region’s Fondazione Roma Lazio Film Commission.
This year’s edition is organized in collaboration with Roma Capitale’s Department for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion, and under the patronage of Eurimages, the Council of Europe’s fund supporting the co-production, distribution, exhibition and digitization of European films.
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