Marta Font’s Off Season (Temporada Baixa) has won the Screen International award at the C EU Soon work-in-progress programme at Rome’s MIA Market.
Off Season was one of several projects honoured at the MIA Awards 2026, which took place on the penultimate day of the market which ran from October 19-23.
Set in a Costa Brava outside the tourist season, Off Season follows a father and his children after learning that the campsite they have always called home has been sold. Their uncertain future gradually pulls the family apart, turning displacement into an intimate story about belonging, change and reconnecting.
The film marks the feature directorial debut of Marta Font and is produced by Mireia Graell Vivancos of Spain’s Ringo Media.
Off Season was showcased in MIA’s C EU Soon programme dedicated to European films in post-production looking for international sellers.
The international jury for the Screen International C EU Soon award comprised Johan Blomqvist, head of international programme at the Göteborg Film Festival; Beatrice Gulino, head of acquisitions and sales at Italy’s Teodora Film; and Amanda Trokan, SVP acquisitions at the US’s 1-2 Special.
In a statement, the jury said they were “impressed by this sensitive portrait of a family facing an uncertain future. The film stands out for the authenticity of its relationships, its profound sense of belonging and the warmth with which it approaches reconciliation, all seen through the assured vision of a new cinematic voice.”
Last year’s winner was Valeriu Andriuță’s film The Circle, which world premiered at the Transilvania International Film Festival in June.
Meanwhile, the MIA development award for outstanding live-action film project went to coming-of-age story The Lost Sons Of Nada, a Finland-UK co-production by Kyran Davies and Scott Quinn that is produced by Poolboy and Falcon Nest Film. The jury credited it for its “distinctive combination of surreal comedy, Nordic folklore and biting satire.”
The MIA development award for outstanding animated film project went to All the Softness In The World by Ayce Kartal and produced by France’s Les Valseurs.
MIA said more than 2,800 professionals attended this year’s market from 64 countries.
MIA award winners 2026
MIA development award for outstanding live action film project
The Lost Sons of Nada (Fin-UK)
Dir. Kyran Davies and Scott Quinn. Prod. Poolboy and Falcon Nest Film.
MIA development award for outstanding animated film project
All The Softness In The World (Fr)
Dir. Ayce Kartal. Prod. Les Valseurs.
MIA development award for outstanding animation series project
Sophie, If You Are There Give Us a Sign! (It-Bel-Sp)
Dir. Dario Piana. Prod. Brand-Cross, 20 Pictures to Midnight and Digitoonz Entertainment.
MIA development award for outstanding documentary project
Loving Ika (Swe)
Dir. Emilio Di Stefano and Fabian Sigurd. Prod. Daniéla Frykstrand, Gunilla Film AB
Special mention
Bleaching Nemo (UK-US)
Dir. Jason Brooks. Prod. Pierangelo Pirak, Pomona Pictures
MIA development award for outstanding drama project
Day Traitors (Den)
Prod. Deborah Bayer Marlow and Michael Bille Frandsen (Nordisk Film Production). Written by Molly Stensgaard, Bo Hr. Hansen and Milad Alami
GEDI Visual award
The Decoy Artist – The Incredible Story of Mario Moselli and Saddam Hussein’s Phantom Army. Dir. Gigi Roccati. Prod. Verdiana.
The Screen International award, C EU Soon
Off Season (Sp)
Dir. Marta Font. Prod. Mireia Graell Vivancos, Ringo Media
Mnemonica award, C EU Soon
Diatribe (Ire)
Dir. Shaun O’Connor. Prod. Maureen O’Connell, 3 Hot Whiskey Productions,
Sony Pictures Television award, Drama Co-Production Market
The Inheritance (Bel)
Prod. Kato Maes, Kristoffel Mertens and Karlijn Van de Cruys (Panenka). Written by Alexandra Jans and Jan Van Dyck.
Women in Film, Television & Media Italia-WIFTMI Award
Animal Instinct (It)
Dir. Vittoria Rizzardi Peñalosa. Prod. Cinefonie.
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