A great programme for the third day of MIA.
The European Commission met professionals from the audiovisual industry gathered together today, discussing the sector, the possible effects brought by the Digital Single Market and other important changes to the industry, such as reforms in copyright and the portability of content. Roberto Viola, Director General DG Connect at the European Commission, stated: “We want to try to bring Europe closer to the industry’s demands. Our aim is to give European citizens the chance to seize the current revolution, the “digital revolution” and for European enterprise to be the protagonist.

Moreover. a look on Public TV with “Culture on Public Television – The Beauty and the Beast?”. A frank discussion with broadcasters from Canada, the United States, France, Germany and Italy on culture as a dimension still seen as “niche programming” made for small audiences. Attracting viewers with culture is often a challenge. What’s the role of the public broadcasters when it comes to culture documentaries, and what should their role be?

Worthy of mention the project “Movie Maestro”, selected at MIA DOC – Arts&Culture Pitching Forum 2016 received the prize “Sunnyside of the DOC” which this year is the prestigious partner of MIA DOC. Thanks to this acknowledgment “Movie Maestro” will have the possibility of participating in the prestigious French market “La Rochelle” and to be presented in the official selection at Sunnyside 2017.

Remake it! for MIA CINEMA, a panel aimed to draw attention to the growing market for remakes: the sales of the rights of stories that have been successful in their homelands and that have the potential to be successful with audiences worldwide. A discussion between Italian and international professionals from the sector, exchanging experiences and discussing the legal, commercial and creative aspects of remakes. Like with plays or song covers, film remakes constitute, in my mind, a great opportunity for creative development. The advantage is that you start off with a strong story which has already demonstrated that it works in another market. From that starting point, screenwriters, the director and actors are free to make changes, and hopefully, improvements and to adapt the story and to an Italian context.

Last but not least the masterclass with Tim Kring and Gina Gardini for MIA TV about Showrunners, that is a creative producer, capable of handling the economic, industrial and artistic aspects of a show. Two authorities on the subject discussed the skill of these professionals in dealing with the various aspects of production. The discussion with Tim Kring, American director, writer and producer, showrunner and creator of Heroes, Touch and Crossing Jordan, and Gina Gardini, producer at Cattleya of successful series such as Romanzo Criminale and Gomorra, was key to understandng why the showrunner today is, in the Sates as well as in Italy, the key figure for guaranteering the success of a television series. In their quality as a creative producer, showrunners straddle  the devide between the director and producer, risolving the dicotomy between the artistic-exectutive aspect and the producing-entrpreneurial aspect.