Cartoons On The Bay, the International Festival of Animation, Transmedia, and Meta Arts, returns to Pescara from May 29 to June 1, 2025. The event will feature the prestigious Pulcinella Awards ceremony, surrounded by international stars, world premieres, in-depth industry discussions, and a diverse array of public and school programs. The 29th edition of the festival showcases a poster designed by British illustrator and children’s literature icon Quentin Blake. Under the direction of Roberto Genovesi, the festival is promoted by Rai and organized by Rai Com, in collaboration with the Abruzzo Region and the City of Pescara. Partners include Rai Kids, RaiPlay, Rai Radio Kids, and Rai Radio 2. This year’s competition features 330 entries from 50 countries, vying for honors in nine award categories. The spotlight is on the creativity of the Nordic countries -Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland- recognized for their innovation in animation and children’s media. Among the highlights of this year’s awards: Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to Quentin Blake and Rob Minkoff. The Pulcinella Special Award will go to Noah Falstein and the Rai Radio 2 show “610”. Eaglet Films will be named Studio of the Year, while The Angry Birds x Legends will receive the Transmedia Award. The Barbie franchise by Mattel will be honored with the Diversity Award. Lorenzo Ceccotti, a world-renowned cartoonist and visual artist, will receive the fourth edition of the Sergio Bonelli Award. Public, cinema, and school programming will be particularly rich. Two exhibitions will be held at the Aurum from May 29 to 31 with free entry from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. “Quentin Blake: The Art of Bringing Imagination to Life” will celebrate Blake’s unique creative legacy, while “Lillo the Model Maker – Between History and Fantasy” will reveal the artistic side of comedian Lillo Petrolo. Families and children can enjoy meet-and-greet events with beloved Rai Yoyo characters like Maia, Bing, Bluey, and Peppa Pig on Saturday, May 31 at 6:00 PM, followed by the Winx 20th Celebration Show at 7:00 PM. Evening performances include a concert by Banco del Mutuo Soccorso with their “Storie Invisibili – Tour 2025” on Friday at 9:00 PM, and a live show by Greg & the Frigidaires on Saturday at the same time. The Cineteatro Massimo will host screenings of the feature films in competition, a retrospective dedicated to Rob Minkoff, and the Italian premiere of Viktor Glukhushin’s animated film “Maracuda – Growing Up is a Jungle” on May 31 at 8:30 PM. Admission to all screenings is free, subject to availability. Elementary and middle school students will also play a central role in the festival, with morning sessions that mix entertainment, games, and educational content alongside exclusive screenings from Rai Kids. Special guests include Armando Traverso, Oreste Castagna, voice actress Arianna Craviotto, and volleyball world champion Andrea Lucchetta. From May 30 to June 1, the Cartoons on The Bay Village returns to Piazza della Rinascita. Organized by Consorzio Gruppo Eventi, the village will transform the seafront into a dynamic, interactive cultural hub filled with live performances, artist showcases, and creative activities for audiences of all ages.
Pulcinella Awards Ceremony, World Premieres & Tributes to Industry Legends
