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My Impressions from MIPCOM 2025: The Market That Overflowed with Stories

My Impressions from MIPCOM 2025: The Market That Overflowed with Stories
After four intense days in Cannes, from October 13 to 16, MIPCOM once again proved that it is not just a market — it’s the living pulse of a constantly evolving industry. With over 10,600 participants, including more than 3,300 buyers from every continent, the Palais des Festivals was a crossroads of people, projects, and perspectives.

This year, more than ever, the global television community showed that the art of storytelling — and the business around it — is undergoing profound transformation.

The Turkish Wave: Star Power on the Croisette
The 2025 edition will undoubtedly be remembered for the massive Turkish presence that dominated the Croisette. Major companies like OGM Universe, Inter Medya, and Global Agency transformed the quiet streets of Cannes into an open-air stage.
Fans gathered in front of the Majestic Hotel and along the seafront to glimpse the stars of Reborn by OGM Universe, Eshref Ruya by Inter Medya, and Dynasty of Love by Global Agency. The scenes looked more like a film premiere than a content market — hundreds of fans cheering, taking photos, and creating an atmosphere of glamour and excitement that echoed across the city.This “Turkish invasion” was not just about celebrity spectacle. It confirmed the global reach of Turkish drama, which continues to attract audiences and buyers across Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, and now is taking aim at Western markets with high-quality production and international storytelling appeal.

The Industry Conversation: Platforms, Data, and Micro-Stories
Behind the scenes, the conference halls were buzzing with ideas and forecasts.
YouTube as the new broadcaster was a recurring theme, highlighted by media cartographer Evan Shapiro, who explained how the platform is reshaping the economics of video and audience engagement.Panels by Omdia (with Maria Rua Aguete) and K7 Media (featuring Inter Medya’s leadership) offered strategic insights into consumption patterns, advertising models, and the rise of micro-dramas — short-form stories born for mobile and creator-driven ecosystems.
These talks collectively signaled a clear trend: the boundaries between traditional television, social video, and digital storytelling are dissolving, creating an interconnected ecosystem that rewards agility and innovation.

Scripted & Unscripted: Where the Genres Meet
In the Fresh TV sessions curated by Virginia Mouseler, the latest scripted and unscripted titles once again captured the audience’s imagination, offering a snapshot of global creativity.
Equally noteworthy was the BBC Showcase, which reinforced the continued strength of the game show as a central genre in the unscripted arena. The British broadcaster presented a range of innovative entertainment formats like The Inner Circle, Wisdom of the Crowd, and the ongoing succes of Nation's Dumbest. The presence of marquee titles like Boston Blue, The Miniature Wife, and Ku’damm 77 ensured that Cannes remained a must-attend destination, while Beta Film organized two exclusive events, a dinner on Sunday and the traditional Beta Brunch at the Majestic showing the best european drama of its catalogue.

From the new big-budget European dramas to high-concept Asian entertainment — like the Japanese “Treasure Box” showcase and Korea’s KOCCA cocktail event promoting K-content worldwide — the breadth of ideas was extraordinary.

MIPCOM also served as a stage for major anniversaries:Globo celebrated its 100th anniversary with a renewed focus on global storytelling. ITV Studios reaffirmed its leadership in production and distribution and celebrate its 70th anniversary, while Italian Rainbow marked 30 years of imagination and success with an exclusive dinner at the Carlton, attended by Winx creator Iginio Straffi.

There was simply too much to absorb in just four days. Between screenings, showcases, panels, and countless one-to-one meetings, MIPCOM 2025 offered a wealth of material that deserves to be explored in depth.

photo: Virginia Mouseler cofounder of the Wit and M.Chiara Duranti, founder of Formatbiz

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