Breaking the Cycle: Innovating Conference Programming

Gaia Tridente (Ph.D.) is a content curator, producer, and creative executive, expert in the audiovisual ecosystem, well known and appreciated by the international film, TV, and digital industry. Gaia was appointed Director of MIA, International Audiovisual Market, in 2022 and renewed in 2024. Previously served as Head of International Scripted Productions at Minerva Pictures, with responsibilities in the international development slate of the group. Gaia has extensive management experience in the global film and television market, experience in delivering large-scale projects, and a proven ability to meet ambitious budget targets. Seasoned professional in the film and TV industry, she is a voting member of the European Film Academy (EFA) and served on the evaluation commissions for the European Writers Club, EWA Networks, and Eurimages. Since 2017, Gaia has been one of the key executives of MIA Market, serving as Head of Drama, and her knowledge placed MIA among the top content marketplace on the international agenda. Gaia also served as Head of Programming at RomeFictionFest, from 2007 to 2016, curating the global selection of scripted series. With a strong passion for her academic background, Gaia has been a guest lecturer and guest professor at the University of Rome Tre (Rome), Scuola Holden (Turin), Master Sole24Ore Business School (Rome), The Media Faculty (Paris), University Alma Mater (Bologna), and wrote several articles and essays on film and TV studies.

Originally from Italy, Capurro moved to France in 2005 to work in various positions for film festivals such as Premiers Plans, Paris Cinéma, and Le Festival des Arcs. He spent three years at the Marché du Film of the Cannes Film Festival. Since 2013, he has been in charge of the Series Mania Forum, which has since become one of the leading professional events in Europe for the TV series industry. 

Marge Liiske is a seasoned professional in the Estonian film industry, currently serving as the Head of Industry at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), also known as Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event. This platform promotes connections between the global audiovisual industry and the regional market, enhancing partnerships across ICT, gaming, mobile technology, and venture capital sectors. Since 2014, PÖFF is one of the 15 A-list film festivals accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) alongside Cannes, Karlovy Vary, San Sebastian, Locarno, Venice, Berlin, Cairo, Mar de Plata, Goa, Tokyo and other film festivals.

Marge’s earlier roles include Managing Director at the Estonian Film Institute (the main film financing body in Estonia) and Manager at MEDIA Desk Estonia, both of which positioned her at the forefront of national cinema development and integration into European networks. She has also worked as a Production Manager at a film production company and as a Project Coordinator in a cinema network.

An alumna of the European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE), Marge Liiske also contributes to the growth of the Estonian film industry by serving on the supervisory board of the Estonian Film Institute, which is the principal film financing organization in Estonia. Marge is a also member of the European Film Academy.