Dozens of works from almost fifty countries will compete for the prestigious Pulcinella Awards during the 28th edition of Cartoons On The Bay, the International Animation, Transmedia and Meta-Arts festival, unfolding in Pescara from 29 May to 2 June. Sport will be the theme this year in celebration of the upcoming Olympics, while Spain will be the guest nation.

Standing out among the titles in the competition are French film The Animal Kingdom [+lee también:
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entrevista: Thomas Cailley
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entrevista: Isabel Herguera
ficha de la película], directed by Spanish filmmaker Isabel Herguera and based on a 1905 feminist utopian novel, in competition in San Sebastián 2023; the intense Hungarian animated documentary Pelikan Blue [+lee también:
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entrevista: Laszló Csaki
ficha de la película] by László Csáki, selected for Black Nights 2023; the Italian film ARF by Simona Cornacchia and Anna Russo; the Italy-Russia co-production Robocity - The hidden city by Anatoly Borodich; the Irish film Puffin Rock and the New Friends by Jeremy Purcell; the Bulgarian production Florentine Night by Sotir Gelev; Ukrainian film Mavka – The Forest Song by Oleg Malamuzh and Sasha Ruban; the US-UK-India co-production The Canterville Ghost, directed by Kim Burdon and Robert Chandler; Indian film Return of the Jungle by Vaibhav Kumaresh; and the US titles The Soccer Football Movie by Mitch Schauer, narrated by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Slide by Bill Plympton.

Promoted by Rai and organized by Rai Com, Cartoons On The Bay is the most important Italian event dedicated to animation and to the children's content industry, and brings together the main players of the Italian and international industry for three days dedicated to professionals (30 May-1 June). Among the various events, there will be the presentation of the finalist projects of the Pitch Me Contest! dedicated to young Italian talents; the Portfolio Review, a networking and meeting opportunity between young talents and production companies; the panel ‘The Global Impact of Esports’, on the influence of electronic sports and the creation of virtual fan communities; a meeting with the animation screenwriter Bruce Morris, known for Hercules and Basil the Mouse Detective, among others; a panel on the valorization of intellectual properties (IP) in the future of Italian animation; a meeting with the American director and producer Leslie Iwerks; the presentation of the immersive comedy series entirely produced on the Roblox platform, Twilight Daycare: The Show, which has recorded over 2 billion spectators.

Numerous segments of the event are dedicated to Spain, starting with an overview of the Spanish and Italian financing and tax incentive systems for animation and children's products, with Nathalie Martinez, president of DIBOOS – Federación Española de Productores de Animación y Efectos Visuales. It will be followed by a focus on the latest animation content production in Spain, with Yago Fandiño, director of ClanTV and head of children's content at RTVE; a panel on opportunities, challenges and winning strategies related to co-production between Spain and Italy, with Maria Bonaria Fois (CEO of Mondo TV Spain) and Diego Ibáñez Belaustegui, Chief Brand Officer of DeAPlaneta); an award ceremony for the animation studio The SPA Studios, based in Madrid and represented by producer Marisa Roman, and for the famous Spanish cartoonist Juanjo Guarnido (Blacksad).