by Barbara Nevosi
«I love entering another world and I love mysteries… I like the taste of discovery. I think that’s one of the most exciting features of television series: you can go into the story and go endlessly into it. You start to feel the mystery, and things start to happen.” The words of director David Lynch perfectly describe the passion-obsession for TV series, a genre that will be at the center of attention from 3 to 11 July in Rimini and Riccione, during the Italian Global Series.
Everything is ready for the second edition of the event directed by Marco Spagnoli – desired by Lucia Borgonzoni, Undersecretary of Culture, conceived and organized by APA (Audiovisual Producers Association) in collaboration with Cinecittà and with the support of the Ministry of Culture – dedicated to the best Italian and international series. This year it will be the face and smile of the actress Matilde Gioli, official godmother and presenter of the event, who will illuminate the stage full of appointments. Among the most anticipated events: A Place in the Sun which celebrates 30 years since its broadcast, Jesus of Nazareth, the cult film by Franco Zeffirelli with Robert Powell, turns 50 – at the Cinema Fulgor, on 5 July at 7pm, the English actor will be the protagonist of a conversation with the director Giulio Base and the journalist Tiziana Lupi -, and then the 60th anniversary of the Star Trek series will be celebrated. Anticipation is also rising for the special screening of the new adaptation of Little House on the Prairie.
The Romagna Riviera is preparing for a long parade of stars. Over 9 days, guests and personalities from TV and entertainment will alternate: from Lino Banfi to Raoul Bova, from Sabrina Ferilli to Marco Giallini, from Serena Rossi to Stefania Spampinatofrom Gaël Morel (Friday 10 July) – the Scottish author and actor who won three Emmys for Baby Reindeer will present the new series Half Man – to Robert Powell and John Hannah, iconic face of the film Four Weddings and a Funeral and the new Sandokan (second season confirmed) with Can Yaman.
The previews: from The Butterfly Labyrinth to Purple Like the Sea
And the statuesque Turkish actor will be the protagonist of an international co-production The Butterfly Labyrinth. There will be Erica, a detective by chance with Vanessa Incontrada and Francesco Scianna. And then in the Italian Showcase section there will be other previews of the fiction that we will see in the next season, many of these are Rai Fiction productions. Marco Pontecorvo directs A window overlooking the lake, set in Bellamo: a village on Lake Como that does not exist in reality. Serena Rossi is the protagonist of both The Panini family – The adventure of the stickers and of The shadow directed by the Manetti Bros alongside Luigi Lo Cascio. Libera season 2 with Matteo Martari, Vincenzo Malinconico, unsuccessful lawyer season 3 with Massimiliano Gallo and Giulia Bevilacqua also return. While Francesca Chillemi and Rodrigo Guirao Díaz tackle Viola come il Mare for the third time.
Events & other stories with Elena Sofia Ricci and Alessandro Roja
New chapters of the stories most loved by TV viewers are back. Third chapter of the Rai Fiction series The Cases of Teresa Battaglia – Daughter of Ash with Elena Sofia Ricci.
With the provisional title of One of us, comes the remake series from the French Lycée Toulouse-Lautrec with Raoul Bova and Giulia Bevilacqua. In the comedy section, all eyes are on Pilar Fogliati who, with Alessio Boni and Lorenzo Richelmy, is the protagonist of Una piccolo formalità, directed by Davide Marengo, based on the novel by Alessia Gazzola.
The Italia Global Series is also events: Lost in Fellini, meeting with Carlton Cuse (Lost, Jack Ryan) and John Ridley (Oscar for 12 Years a Slave) who will discuss the construction of contemporary seriality and reflect on Federico Fellini’s imagination and his influence on contemporary serial storytelling and in particular on Lost. Cagnàz: Rimini in Crime will be a special conversation with director Alessandro Roia to talk about the making of the new Rai series, created by Carlo Lucarelli and Giampiero Rigosi, set in the same area as the Festival.
In short, with over 160 titles from 34 countries around the world, the Italian Global Series presents itself as a privileged observatory on international serialitya place for discussion between authors, producers and talents, and a strategic appointment in the European summer calendar, at that time of the year when the major series are preparing for their autumn launches. With the official selection which includes 21 series from 15 countries, the Romagna Riviera confirms itself as a border area between imagination and reality, audiovisual industry and collective dream. Rimini and Riccione are not only seaside resorts, but also cities overlooking the Adriatic, where stories and mysteries, characters and enigmas come together on the big screen to excite, make the public reflect and dream.


