Crime, mystery and thriller titles are taking center stage at this year’s Italian Global Series (IGS), which will run from July 3-11 across Rimini and Riccione, Italy.
The festival’s International Competition features 21 series from 15 countries, with a strong presence of crime-driven storytelling.
From political espionage and serial killer investigations to forensic mysteries and organized crime, the 2026 lineup highlights some of the most anticipated crime dramas from around the world.
Among the standout titles is Secret Service, a British political spy thriller following an MI6 officer investigating a suspected Russian infiltration at the highest levels of the UK government. South Korean thriller Speaking Dead centers on a forensic scientist who pushes for the reinvestigation of a prosecutor’s suspicious death, uncovering a wider network of corruption and abuse of power.
Italy’s The Teresa Battaglia Cases: Daughter of Ash follows a veteran profiler tracking a serial killer who leaves ritualistic clues behind a string of murders, while Swedish legal thriller Burden of Justice explores the dark realities hidden beneath Stockholm’s elite law firms.
Other notable crime entries include Benidorm Is Murder, a crime drama set on Spain’s Costa Blanca; The Widow Killer, a period thriller about a ritualistic serial killer in Nazi-occupied Prague; and The Terror: Devil in Silver, a psychological horror thriller set inside a psychiatric institution filled with secrets and violence.
In the Limited Series competition, Chilean drama Raza Brava examines the links between organized football fan groups, violence and criminal networks, while Spanish thriller The Tribute revolves around long-buried crimes, betrayals and shocking revelations that emerge during a family patriarch’s 80th birthday celebration.
Festival organizers said they received more than 160 submissions from around the world for this year’s edition. The final selection represents productions from Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America.
Confirmed guests include Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright, Doctor Foster actor Bertie Carvel, German-Turkish actor Serkan Çayoğlu and Bates Motel creator Carlton Cuse.
Alongside screenings, the event will host discussions on international productions, co-production trends and the future of global television storytelling.
Pitch Crime: APA’s New Initiative for Crime Series Development
In addition to the official competition lineup, this year’s festival introduces Pitch Crime, a strategic new initiative launched by the Italian Audiovisual Producers Association (APA). Specifically designed to foster the development of original crime series for both Italian and international markets, the project targets established film production companies looking to break into television storytelling.
Following an initial selection phase, chosen creators participated in one-on-one pitching sessions with top industry experts and producers. The winning project will be celebrated during the festival with the prestigious Maximo Award and a €20,000 development grant dedicated specifically to crafting the project’s Series Bible.
Applications for this inaugural talent pipeline officially closed on April 15, 2026, marking a significant step forward in discovering the genre’s next major global hits.
Source: Italian Global Series Festival
