Rome’s MIA Market is launching a new European Investment Hub to help audiovisual industry professionals understand and access the range of financing options available across Europe. The initiative will bring together producers, investors, financial institutions and industry experts to discuss funding opportunities, including public support and private equity, as part of the market’s 12th edition, scheduled to take place from October 19 to 23, 2026.
The European Investment Hub has been developed in collaboration with the European Commission, the European Investment Fund, the CineRegio network of regional film funds in Europe, Eurimages and private equity players. The programme will take place during the first two days of MIA and will include panels, round-table discussions and one-to-one advisory meetings.
These sessions are designed to connect producers with funding organisations and help them better understand the financial tools available to their companies. The initiative will provide a dedicated space for industry professionals to examine different approaches to financing audiovisual projects and to establish direct connections with organisations involved in funding and investment.
Among the industry figures expected to attend are Roeg Sutherland, co-head of CAA’s media finance department and international film group, and Raj Singh and Christopher Woodrow of U.S.-based specialty finance company Media Capital Technologies.
The European Investment Hub will focus on several financial tools, including European co-production funds, equity funds dedicated to content creation, completion bonds and risk-mitigation mechanisms developed alongside European and national institutions. These options are intended to support productions at different stages, from development through to completion.
MIA chief Gaia Tridente said the initiative is intended to encourage direct contact between producers and representatives of funding organisations who can provide guidance. She noted that the programme will include funds for productions with budgets of €50 million and above, as well as those working with smaller budgets more typical of European cinema and television.
One of the key sessions, titled “Unlocking Italy’s Potential,” will feature Raj Singh, Roeg Sutherland and U.S. entertainment lawyer Steve Saltzman, head of the International Entertainment Group at London-based law firm Fieldfisher. The discussion will explore the opportunities available within Italy’s audiovisual industry and its financing ecosystem.
Singh will also use a separate session to launch a new venture aimed at expanding financing opportunities for content creation. The session will add another focus to the market’s broader examination of how producers and investors can access capital for audiovisual projects.
Another panel, titled “Equity and Growth Capital: Investing in Creativity, IP and Long-Term Value,” will bring together Christopher Woodrow, founder and chairman of Media Capital Technologies; Celine Dornier, a content executive at Finland- and U.K.-based film investment fund IPR.VC; and Alexandra Lebret, a partner in Together Fund, which was recently launched in partnership with Paris-based investment firm Axio Capital.
The discussion will focus on investment in creative projects, intellectual property and long-term business growth. By bringing together representatives from investment companies and funds, the session will examine the financial side of content creation alongside the value and growth potential associated with intellectual property.
The programme will also include representatives from 35 European co-production funds, who will travel to Rome to explain the financing mechanisms available in their respective countries. Spain, for example, will be represented by three different funds, giving producers the opportunity to learn more about the funding systems available across Europe.
Chiara Sbarigia, head of Italian TV producers’ association APA, said the industry needed a dedicated space to address financing challenges, particularly for small and medium-sized production companies. APA has also presented a proposal to relevant institutions for a public-private fund, which will be showcased to industry professionals during MIA.
The presence of representatives from regional and national funding organisations is intended to give producers a broader understanding of the financing structures available across European markets. Alongside the discussions, the one-to-one advisory meetings will provide an opportunity for producers to connect directly with organisations that can offer guidance on available financial tools.
With the launch of the European Investment Hub, MIA is placing a stronger focus on financing and investment opportunities for the audiovisual industry. The initiative will form a central part of the 2026 market, bringing producers and financial organisations together to explore funding options and support content creation across Europe.
The 12th edition of MIA Market will run in Rome from October 19 to 23, 2026, with the European Investment Hub scheduled to operate during the first two days of the market.