Chicago Gangland Drama ‘The Roaring Banshees’ Takes Home Newly Minted Sony Pictures Television Award at Rome’s MIA Market
“The Roaring Banshees,” an adaptation of the hit play by John Morton and Peter McGann that follows an all-female band of Irish rebels pursuing a life of crime in 1920s Chicago, was among the big winners as Rome’s MIA Market wrapped Friday night, taking home the newly minted Sony Pictures Television Award for best drama project at the event’s 11th edition.
Presenting the award, Sony Pictures Television president Katherine Pope praised the series — which is written by Morton and McGann and produced by Paul Donovan of Dublin-based Deadpan Pictures — saying that it “represents the kind of bold and innovative storytelling that makes for exceptional television.”
“Rooted in an often-overlooked chapter of history and driven by compelling female leads, ‘The Roaring Banshees’ offers a perspective we don’t see nearly enough, which is why the jury has chosen it as the winner of the Sony Pictures Television drama award,” Pope said.
MIA Development Awards were also handed out to four projects selected across the four categories of the Co-Production Market and Pitching Forum, with each receiving cash prizes to support their development.
The award for best drama project went to “Aïnta!,” produced by Andreas Zoupanos Kritikos of Greek heavyweight Faliro House Productions and written by Kevin Zans Ansong and Stavros Pamballis. The show follows a second-generation Greek Ghanaian immigrant on a journey of self-discovery who chases his dream of becoming a rap star.
A special mention in the drama category went to the series “Guests,” written by Saleh Saad and produced by May Jabareen (Philistine Films), which follows a Palestinian man who returns to his Bedouin village to help his mother manage a guesthouse.
The award for outstanding animation project went to “The Golden Butterfly,” by Goce Cvetanovski, which follows a group of friends on a dazzling adventure in the Colombian rainforest. It’s produced by Makedonska Krepost and co-produced by Blurr Stories, Technoscope Films and The G7.
In the film category, the award went to “I Have to Fuck Before the World Ends,” directed by Andrea Benjamin Manenti and produced by Stefano Centini (Volos Film) and Carlo Hinterman (Citrullo International). The deeply personal project sees Manenti drawing on his family history to tell a story of intimacy, memory and resilience between two worlds.
Finally, the award for outstanding documentary went to “Edition 96,” directed by Ahmad Naboulsi and produced by OOBconcept, which spotlights stories of courage and the struggle for civil rights.
Several additional awards were also handed out at Friday’s closing ceremony. The Paramount New Stories Award, presented this year to a factual entertainment project, was awarded to “POV – Point of View,” produced by Tapeless Film and created by Luca Murphy (Italy). The GEDI Visual Award went to “Pestiferus Lupus,” directed by Ludovico Serra and Luca Jankovic and produced by Box Vision, with a special mention going to “Fish Don’t Close Their Eyes,” directed by Audrey Gordon and produced by Big Sur Srl, Oh!Pen, Artline Films and Jando Music.
The Screen International Award was given to “The Circle,” directed by Valeriu Andriuta, produced by Iulia Andriuta (Amprenta Films) and co-produced with Idea Film Around the World. Finally, the Women in Film and Television Italia – WIFTMI Award, recognizing the project with the greatest potential in addressing gender inequality and promoting inclusion, was awarded to the animated TV series “Roc and Lola,” directed by Andrea Giro and produced by Primal Shape.
The award ceremony capped a busy week in the Eternal City, where more than 100 projects — out of approximately 500 submissions — were presented during MIA’s Co-Production Market and Pitching Forum and its additional showcases for animation, documentaries, TV formats and series.
Market head Gaia Tridente noted that this year’s edition of MIA “reflects our international nature,” describing the event as “a mosaic of countries and cultures spanning Europe, North and Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific,” while underscoring the host city’s position “as the destination where stories gain momentum and shape the future.”
Alessandro Usai, president of the Italian National Association of Cinematographic, Audiovisual and Digital Industries (ANICA), and Italian Audiovisual Producers Association (APA) president Chiara Sbarigia, celebrated the “strong attendance” at this year’s market, noting that “the numbers confirm the interest of the entire Italian and international audiovisual industry in the market that ANICA and APA jointly created,” while adding that the growing event’s “broader, intercontinental reach opens up new opportunities for exchange, collaboration and inspiration in both production and distribution.”
Presenting the award, Sony Pictures Television president Katherine Pope praised the series — which is written by Morton and McGann and produced by Paul Donovan of Dublin-based Deadpan Pictures — saying that it “represents the kind of bold and innovative storytelling that makes for exceptional television.”
“Rooted in an often-overlooked chapter of history and driven by compelling female leads, ‘The Roaring Banshees’ offers a perspective we don’t see nearly enough, which is why the jury has chosen it as the winner of the Sony Pictures Television drama award,” Pope said.
MIA Development Awards were also handed out to four projects selected across the four categories of the Co-Production Market and Pitching Forum, with each receiving cash prizes to support their development.
The award for best drama project went to “Aïnta!,” produced by Andreas Zoupanos Kritikos of Greek heavyweight Faliro House Productions and written by Kevin Zans Ansong and Stavros Pamballis. The show follows a second-generation Greek Ghanaian immigrant on a journey of self-discovery who chases his dream of becoming a rap star.
A special mention in the drama category went to the series “Guests,” written by Saleh Saad and produced by May Jabareen (Philistine Films), which follows a Palestinian man who returns to his Bedouin village to help his mother manage a guesthouse.
The award for outstanding animation project went to “The Golden Butterfly,” by Goce Cvetanovski, which follows a group of friends on a dazzling adventure in the Colombian rainforest. It’s produced by Makedonska Krepost and co-produced by Blurr Stories, Technoscope Films and The G7.
In the film category, the award went to “I Have to Fuck Before the World Ends,” directed by Andrea Benjamin Manenti and produced by Stefano Centini (Volos Film) and Carlo Hinterman (Citrullo International). The deeply personal project sees Manenti drawing on his family history to tell a story of intimacy, memory and resilience between two worlds.
Finally, the award for outstanding documentary went to “Edition 96,” directed by Ahmad Naboulsi and produced by OOBconcept, which spotlights stories of courage and the struggle for civil rights.
Several additional awards were also handed out at Friday’s closing ceremony. The Paramount New Stories Award, presented this year to a factual entertainment project, was awarded to “POV – Point of View,” produced by Tapeless Film and created by Luca Murphy (Italy). The GEDI Visual Award went to “Pestiferus Lupus,” directed by Ludovico Serra and Luca Jankovic and produced by Box Vision, with a special mention going to “Fish Don’t Close Their Eyes,” directed by Audrey Gordon and produced by Big Sur Srl, Oh!Pen, Artline Films and Jando Music.
The Screen International Award was given to “The Circle,” directed by Valeriu Andriuta, produced by Iulia Andriuta (Amprenta Films) and co-produced with Idea Film Around the World. Finally, the Women in Film and Television Italia – WIFTMI Award, recognizing the project with the greatest potential in addressing gender inequality and promoting inclusion, was awarded to the animated TV series “Roc and Lola,” directed by Andrea Giro and produced by Primal Shape.
The award ceremony capped a busy week in the Eternal City, where more than 100 projects — out of approximately 500 submissions — were presented during MIA’s Co-Production Market and Pitching Forum and its additional showcases for animation, documentaries, TV formats and series.
Market head Gaia Tridente noted that this year’s edition of MIA “reflects our international nature,” describing the event as “a mosaic of countries and cultures spanning Europe, North and Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific,” while underscoring the host city’s position “as the destination where stories gain momentum and shape the future.”
Alessandro Usai, president of the Italian National Association of Cinematographic, Audiovisual and Digital Industries (ANICA), and Italian Audiovisual Producers Association (APA) president Chiara Sbarigia, celebrated the “strong attendance” at this year’s market, noting that “the numbers confirm the interest of the entire Italian and international audiovisual industry in the market that ANICA and APA jointly created,” while adding that the growing event’s “broader, intercontinental reach opens up new opportunities for exchange, collaboration and inspiration in both production and distribution.”