Italian Global Series Festival, (July 3-11, 2026, Riccione and Rimini), Italy
Early July on Italy’s Adriatic Riviera means long days, warm evenings and full cinemas: in 2026, Rimini and Riccione once again welcome the Italian Global Series (IGS) Festival, turning the seaside cities into a summer hub for international television storytelling.
Organized by APA ((Italian Audiovisual Producers Association) in collaboration with Cinecittà and supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Emilia-Romagna Region, and with Marco Spagnoli as Artistic Director, IGS received 161 submissions from 34 countries for its International Competition, selecting 21 projects across Drama, Limited Series, and Comedy — all competing for the Maximo Awards.
In early July, when the Riviera is at its liveliest, screenings and conversations will unfold between historic theaters in Rimini and open‑air venues a few steps from the beach in Riccione, offering international guests a unique mix of industry focus and holiday atmosphere.
The Drama section features world premieres from the UK/Spain (Benidorm Is Murder, starring John Hannah) and Brazil (Emergency 53), alongside the first American title in IGS competition: The Terror: Devil in Silver (Scott Free Productions, AMC), with Judith Light and CCH Pounder. The UK spy thriller Secret Service, directed by Oscar-winner James Marsh and starring Gemma Arterton, and Korean thriller Speaking Dead complete a strong international slate. Three Rai Fiction world premieres compete across all three sections: I casi di Teresa Battaglia – Figlia della cenere (Elena Sofia Ricci), One of Us (Raoul Bova), and Una piccola formalità (Pilar Fogliati).
Competition juries are led by Nicholas Meyer (Limited Series), Marti Noxon (Drama), and Bruno Gouery (Comedy). Among the industry guests: showrunner Carlton Cuse and Oscar-winner John Ridley in conversation on contemporary storytelling; producers David W. Zucker (Scott Free) and Steve Stark (The Handmaid’s Tale, Wednesday) on the future of international production; and casting director Kate Rhodes James on building global casts.
The festival also serves as a showcase for the upcoming Italian season, with exclusive previews from Rai Fiction, Mediaset, and Prime Video, and celebrates landmark anniversaries: 60 years of Star Trek (with a preview of Strange New Worlds Season 4 and a conversation with Jeri Ryan), 50 years of Gesù di Nazareth (with Robert Powell), and 30 years of soap opera Un posto al sole. Netflix presents a special advance screening of its new Little House on the Prairie adaptation.
Maximo Excellence Awards go to Lino Banfi, Carlton Cuse, Sabrina Ferilli, Marco Giallini, Rita Pavone, Francesco Piccolo, Robert Powell, and Roberto Sessa. New this year: a Crime Series Pitch Award (€20,000 development prize) and the Maximino Award, voted by 60 students attending the festival’s inaugural Summer School. All events are free and open to the public.
For more information visit: www.italianglobalseries.it
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Giffoni Film Festival (July 17-25, 2026 Valle Piana), Italy
Filming Italy Sardegna Festival, June 18–28, 2026, CagliariRelated Posts
Early July on Italy’s Adriatic Riviera means long days, warm evenings and full cinemas: in 2026, Rimini and Riccione once again welcome the Italian Global Series (IGS) Festival, turning the seaside cities into a summer hub for international television storytelling.
Organized by APA ((Italian Audiovisual Producers Association) in collaboration with Cinecittà and supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Emilia-Romagna Region, and with Marco Spagnoli as Artistic Director, IGS received 161 submissions from 34 countries for its International Competition, selecting 21 projects across Drama, Limited Series, and Comedy — all competing for the Maximo Awards.
In early July, when the Riviera is at its liveliest, screenings and conversations will unfold between historic theaters in Rimini and open‑air venues a few steps from the beach in Riccione, offering international guests a unique mix of industry focus and holiday atmosphere.
The Drama section features world premieres from the UK/Spain (Benidorm Is Murder, starring John Hannah) and Brazil (Emergency 53), alongside the first American title in IGS competition: The Terror: Devil in Silver (Scott Free Productions, AMC), with Judith Light and CCH Pounder. The UK spy thriller Secret Service, directed by Oscar-winner James Marsh and starring Gemma Arterton, and Korean thriller Speaking Dead complete a strong international slate. Three Rai Fiction world premieres compete across all three sections: I casi di Teresa Battaglia – Figlia della cenere (Elena Sofia Ricci), One of Us (Raoul Bova), and Una piccola formalità (Pilar Fogliati).
Competition juries are led by Nicholas Meyer (Limited Series), Marti Noxon (Drama), and Bruno Gouery (Comedy). Among the industry guests: showrunner Carlton Cuse and Oscar-winner John Ridley in conversation on contemporary storytelling; producers David W. Zucker (Scott Free) and Steve Stark (The Handmaid’s Tale, Wednesday) on the future of international production; and casting director Kate Rhodes James on building global casts.
The festival also serves as a showcase for the upcoming Italian season, with exclusive previews from Rai Fiction, Mediaset, and Prime Video, and celebrates landmark anniversaries: 60 years of Star Trek (with a preview of Strange New Worlds Season 4 and a conversation with Jeri Ryan), 50 years of Gesù di Nazareth (with Robert Powell), and 30 years of soap opera Un posto al sole. Netflix presents a special advance screening of its new Little House on the Prairie adaptation.
Maximo Excellence Awards go to Lino Banfi, Carlton Cuse, Sabrina Ferilli, Marco Giallini, Rita Pavone, Francesco Piccolo, Robert Powell, and Roberto Sessa. New this year: a Crime Series Pitch Award (€20,000 development prize) and the Maximino Award, voted by 60 students attending the festival’s inaugural Summer School. All events are free and open to the public.
For more information visit: www.italianglobalseries.it
Share:
Giffoni Film Festival (July 17-25, 2026 Valle Piana), ItalyFilming Italy Sardegna Festival, June 18–28, 2026, Cagliari
