Italian Global Series Festival Unveils 2025 Programme at Cannes

The inaugural Italian Global Series Festival (IGSF) will take place from June 21–28, 2025, in Riccione and Rimini, Italy, and was officially launched with a programme announcement at the Italian Pavilion in Cannes. Reviving the spirit of the former RomaFictionFest, the festival will spotlight both Italian and international television series, with a lineup that includes 28 competitive titles—8 of them world premieres—alongside 33 Italian productions and entries from 34 countries.

The event will feature screenings, masterclasses, panels, and premieres, including Lena Dunham’s Too Much (Netflix), the third season of Squid Game, Prime Video’s Pesci Piccoli Season 2, and a fan-favorite reunion of I Cesaroni. The competition programme is divided into international and Italian categories, awarding best series, actors, directors, and creators. Special sections include “Extraordinary – Women Portrayed In Series,” curated by Carlo Chatrian, and a panel exploring historical storytelling on TV.

Masterclasses will be led by Emmy-winning creators Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat, and Sue Vertue. The festival will also present MAXIMO Awards for Excellence to prominent figures including Giorgio Moroder, Evangeline Lilly, Adjoa Andoh, and Italian stars Carlo Verdone and Elena Sofia Ricci. Rising actress Caterina De Angelis was named the official ambassador, joined by a group of young Italian talents as part of the Ministry of Culture’s “Celebrating Connection” initiative.

Organized by APA with support from Italy’s Ministry of Culture, SIAE, and AGIS, the festival is free and open to the public, with events held at venues across both cities.