The Challenge Award 2016–2026 – Rainbow Awards was presented on Monday, February 2, on the prestigious stage of the Teatro Brancaccio, to Un medico in famiglia, the undisputed icon of Italian television produced by Verdiana Bixio, Owner and CEO of Publispei.
The ceremony was hosted by actress, writer and TV presenter Chiara Francini alongside director Alessio Marzilli.
The award paid tribute to a series that spanned more than twenty years of Italian television with warmth, irony and narrative courage, becoming synonymous with authentic and universal storytelling. In particular, the Challenge Award celebrated the tenth anniversary of the first gay kiss in Italian TV drama, a historic moment of openness and representation that marked a turning point in the national audiovisual landscape. That memorable scene featured Paolo Sassanelli and Leonardo Santini, whose storyline contributed to reshaping the language of Italian television. Some stories are destined to endure.
The production company Publispei, long committed to LGBTQIA+ themes through series such as È arrivata la felicità and Amore, pensaci tu, not only entertained generations with Un medico in famiglia, but also challenged cultural barriers with sensitivity and humanity, leaving a lasting impact on Italian serial storytelling.
Un Medico in Famiglia Produced by Verdiana Bixio Receives the Challenge Award 2016–2026 at the Rainbow Awards
