‘Star Trek’ in Spotlight at Italian Global Series

The Italian Global Series Festival is set to return for its second edition from July 3-11 along the stunning Adriatic coast. With a focus on promoting not just Italian creations but also the region, culture, and fostering collaboration within the television industry, the festival aims to create a unique platform for international attendees.

Artistic director Marco Spagnoli expressed his vision for the festival, stating that they aim to open it up to the world and provide a space for people from different countries to come together. Building on the success of the inaugural edition in 2025, Spagnoli has curated a lineup of 21 series from 15 countries for this year’s competition, down from 32 titles last year, to ensure attendees have more breathing room and a more streamlined experience.

The festival will feature world premieres of exciting shows like the U.K.-Spanish detective drama “Benidorm Is Murder” and the Brazilian medical thriller “Emergency 53,” along with international premieres of series like “Secret Service,” “Speaking Dead,” and “Raza Brava.” Spagnoli emphasized that while world premieres are not a requirement, the festival serves as a platform for international series to reach a wider audience.

Notable talent attending the festival includes U.S. performers CCH Pounder and Judith Light, as well as France’s Virginie Ledoyen and Camille Razat. Carlton Cuse, Titus Welliver, Lisa Mulcahy, and Richard Gadd will be honored with the festival’s Maximo Excellence Award.

The festival’s jury presidents represent different strands of its identity, with French actor Bruno Gouery overseeing the comedy competition, Marti Noxon leading the drama jury, and Nicholas Meyer heading the limited-series jury. Meyer, known for his work on projects like “The Seven-Per-Cent Solution” and “Star Trek,” will be a key figure in celebrating the franchise’s 60th anniversary at the festival.

With a lineup that includes a preview of Netflix’s upcoming “Little House on the Prairie” reboot and discussions with industry veterans like Meyer and producer David W. Zucker, the Italian Global Series Festival promises to be an exciting and enriching experience for all attendees. As the European television industry continues to evolve, festival director Spagnoli is leading the charge by embracing new iterations of familiar intellectual property (IP). With a focus on international crossroads ambitions, Spagnoli hopes to send a powerful message to the industry about the importance of renewal and the potential of classic European series.

Spagnoli emphasizes the significance of allowing intellectual property to live on and be revitalized for modern audiences. He believes that there is a wealth of Italian and European series that have the potential to resonate with viewers today, just as they did in the past. By revisiting these iconic shows, Spagnoli aims to show the industry the value of looking to the past to understand the present and envision the future.

“In Italy, we’re born with the past,” Spagnoli reflects, highlighting the deep cultural connection to classic television series. These shows held meaning for millions of people and continue to hold a special place in the hearts of many. By exploring reboots and new iterations of these beloved series, Spagnoli hopes to tap into this nostalgic sentiment while also breathing new life into these IPs.

One such example of this approach is the upcoming series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” which promises to take viewers on a fresh journey through the beloved “Star Trek” universe. By reimagining familiar characters and storylines, the show aims to capture the essence of the original series while offering a contemporary take for modern audiences.

By championing the reinvention of classic IPs and embracing international collaboration, Spagnoli is setting the stage for a new era in European television. Through his festival and its ambitious goals, he hopes to inspire the industry to embrace innovation, creativity, and the timeless appeal of iconic series. As the European television landscape continues to evolve, Spagnoli’s vision serves as a beacon of hope for the future of storytelling on screen.