The Italian Global Series Festival (IGSF), a new event celebrating television series from Italy and around the world, will take place from June 21 to 28 in Riccione and Rimini. The festival serves as an updated version of the Roma Fiction Festival, which ran until 2016. Organizers have secured High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic, and the event is supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Audiovisual Producers Association.
Marco Spagnoli, deputy director of Rome’s MIA Market, has been named artistic director. He emphasized that the festival aims to highlight Italian productions in an international setting while recognizing established and emerging talent. The IGSF will host first-look screenings, keynotes, and onstage discussions featuring figures from the global television industry. Moderators will include Piera Detassis, president of the David di Donatello Awards, and Laura Delli Colli, head of Italy’s film journalists’ union.
The festival’s jury will include two-time Palme d’Or winner Bille August, Oscar-nominated director Cristina Comencini, and filmmaker Paolo Genovese. They will judge series in categories such as Drama, Comedy, Limited Series, and TV Movies, with awards given for Best Series, Best Leading Actor and Actress, and Best Creator or Director. A special Italian Fiction award will be presented to a local production released between June 2024 and May 2025. The National Union of Film Journalists will also award a Special Nastro D’Argento to a major international co-production at the festival.
Among the first recipients of the Maximo Excellence Awards are Lost star Evangeline Lilly, Bridgerton actor Adjoa Andoh, and Italian actress Elena Sofia Ricci. Other honorees include Carlo Verdone, recognized for his long-standing comedic work, and electronic music pioneer Giorgio Moroder.
The IGSF arrives at a time when the global television industry continues to expand. Italy’s festival calendar already includes events such as the Taormina Film Festival and Filming Italy Sardegna, and new festivals like Seriesly Berlin have launched internationally.
