During the Series Mania Forum held in Lille, audience analytics company Glance unveiled a curated selection of scripted series under the title “A Glance at Local Hits with International Potential,” including Standing Tall.
The showcase highlighted recent productions that not only achieved strong performance in their home markets but also demonstrate clear potential to resonate with global audiences.
A key takeaway from the presentation was a growing industry shift: stories deeply rooted in local contexts are increasingly capturing international attention, particularly when they explore timely and universally relatable themes such as identity, social conflict, and the influence of technology.
Among the standout titles was the Italian drama Standing Tall (A testa alta), produced for Mediaset’s Canale 5. The series was featured within a segment focusing on crime dramas set in educational settings, an emerging narrative space where personal struggles and broader societal tensions intersect.
Set in a lakeside town near Rome, Standing Tall follows a respected high school principal whose life is upended when a private video is leaked online, triggering a wave of public shaming. The series explores themes of digital exposure, cyberbullying, and social judgment, reflecting issues that resonate across international markets.
The show delivered strong results in Italy, particularly among younger audiences, significantly outperforming the channel’s average and confirming its relevance with contemporary viewers. According to Glance: “its success is driven by a combination of topical storytelling, emotional intensity, and the presence of popular actress Sabrina Ferilli, alongside high production values and a compelling narrative structure”.
Standing Tall stars Sabrina Ferilli. The series follows Virginia, a devoted mother and school educator who launches an initiative to combat digital addiction among her students. Her life is suddenly shaken when an intimate video involving her is leaked online, triggering a public scandal and forcing her to confront the consequences on both a personal and professional level. The finale attracted 4.03 million viewers, corresponding to a 28.2% audience share. The title was produced by RTI in collaboration with Banijay Studios Italia.
