L’Aquila, Nov. 29th – Dec. 1st, 2023
Pera Toons meets with kids and signs copies of his latest book, animated film screenings for families with a preview of ‘Vote for Santa’, and a busy schedule for schools
Cartoons on the Bay Winter Edition returns to L’Aquila, Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 2023, with a rich program of meetings, screenings with free entrance (limited to capacity), and a three-day matinee dedicated to schools. The event of TV animation, transmedia, and meta-art produced and directed by Roberto Genovesi for Rai Com is held at Movieplex L’Aquila (Via Leonardo da Vinci, 7), and is produced in collaboration with the Abruzzo Region and the Municipality of L’Aquila. Cartoons on the Bay Winter Edition confirms a success enhancing Rai’s teamwork thanks to the involvement of Rai Kids and Rai Radio Kids, and with children’s most beloved characters such as those of Andrea Lucchetta, Oreste Castagna, and Armando Traverso.
With a free entrance limited to capacity, the event features a retrospective of animated films for families on Nov. 29 with the screenings of three masterpieces that have won the Pulcinella Awards in the past. Then, room is made for Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!, directed by Peter Lord and Jeff Newitt (5 p.m.), The Corpse Bride, directed by Tim Burton and Mike Johnson (7 p.m.), and finally, Anne Frank and the Secret Diary, by Ari Folman (9 p.m.). Highly anticipated for Nov. 30 is the premiere of the animated film Vote for Santa, a comedy directed by Francesco Cinquemani. Distributed in Italy by Minerva Pictures, the film is set in the Christmas Factory where each year Santa Claus produces toys for children, and chooses which to pick after reading the many letters he has received.
Among the most anticipated guests for children is Pera Toons, who on Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m., will animate a public gathering and sign copies of his latest book, Fatti una risata. The best-selling Italian author of 2023 (stage name Alessandro Perugini) with nearly five million fans on social media, and more than 800 000 copies sold, is back in bookstores with a long story starring his iconic characters and his unmistakable humor.
The program dedicated to elementary school is rich and diverse, with nearly 900 participants registered for all three days. Meetings include Stories of Peace with Oreste Castagna, as well as one with Dr. Ilio Leonio, UNICEF L’Aquila Regional President, which will be followed by the screening of Gino the Chicken: Hey, do you know that children have rights? Don’t step on us! In addition, Andrea Lucchetta also returns with Animare lo sport, presented by Cartoons on the Bay and Rai Kids, screening new episodes of the Super Spikeball series. The Spooky Wolf series will also premiere. Furthermore, the program also includes film screenings such as The Ballad of the Homeless, an animated film directed by Monica Manganelli that narrates the drama of the 2012 earthquake. But also, The City of Forgotten Things, directed by Francesco Filippi and Massimo Frezzato in a single 43-meter drawing where a blackbird takes care of all the forgotten things. Moreover, there will also be room for series with the 13-episode live action Home Sweet Rome!, an international co-production by Rai Kids with Red Monk Studio and First Generation Films, shot in English and set in Rome. Rai Radio Kids will also be in L’Aquila with its Radio Kids Live with Armando Traverso.
“We are coming back to L’Aquila,” points out Roberto Genovesi, “willing to reaffirm the success of Cartoons on the Bay in the Winter Edition of 2023. And, we do so with a rich and expanded program for schools, with a film review dedicated to all the winners of the Pulcinella Awards 2023, a world premiere and, above all, the presence of Pera Toons (author, by the way, of the festival’s poster) who is one of the most followed characters by children on social media and who will be with us for a special event on Dec. 1.”
“Cartoons on the Bay,” says Marco Marsilio, President of the Abruzzo Region, “is about to return to L’Aquila for its winter edition, and we are already looking forward to it. The Abruzzo Region has staked a lot on this extraordinary event, asking and obtaining from Rai the opportunity to host the International Animation Festival, which brought successes that have exceeded all expectations. I would like to thank Rai Com and the director of the festival, Roberto Genovesi, for having been able to develop the enormous potential related to this event and once again prepared a very rich program of events, with special guests such as Pera Toons, the best-selling Italian author of the year, but also meetings and screenings designed specifically for children and families in L’Aquila. A three-day event that will take us towards the Holy Christmas festivities with the premiere of the animated film ‘Vote for Santa’, and many other moments of fun as well as reflection and growth. The best gift we could put under our kids’ Tree.”
“A fair that has now become part of the calendar of cultural events that animate the city of L’Aquila, and especially expected by children who this year will have the opportunity to meet Pera Toons, the best-selling cartoonist of 2023. A very important event for the city. I extend my compliments to those who have been involved in its organization, from the Abruzzo Region that has supported it, up to the artistic director, Roberto Genovesi, who always manages to involve so many children, young people and students giving them emotions that only the big screen can offer, as witnessed also by the many appreciations on the social media page of the event” – says the Mayor of L’Aquila, Pierluigi Biondi.