Italy earned two awards for feature films at the 29th edition of Cartoons On The Bay, the animation festival directed by Roberto Genovesi, promoted by Rai and organized by Rai Com, in collaboration with the Abruzzo Region and the City of Pescara. The jury, consisting of Rob Minkoff (director of The Lion King), Alberto Rigoni (Head of Content and Productions at Lucca Crea, organizers of Lucca Comics), and Flavio Natalia (editor of Ciak and Ciak Magazine), awarded the Special Mention for Best Soundtrack to “Bartali’s Bicycle” (Italy), directed by Enrico Paolantonio and produced by Lynx Multimedia Factory in collaboration with Rai Kids, for its remarkable blend of music and storytelling, this piece stands out as both emotionally powerful and socially relevant.
The jury also awarded the Renato Pallavicini Plaque to “Balentes” (Italy), directed by Giovanni Columbu and produced by Luches, for its compelling portrayal of historical events through a sharp and engaging investigative lens. The international jury of Cartoons On The Bay 2025, composed of Noah Falstein, Patricia Hidalgo, Irene Pothecary-Huse, Vicky Schroderus, and Pierre Siracusa, awarded three Pulcinella Awards to Italy. The Pulcinella Award for Live Action TV Series or Hybrid went to “Crush – The Story of Matilde” (Italy), directed by Raffaele Androsiglio and produced by Stand by Me in collaboration with Rai Kids. This brave show shines a light on a subject of international importance: how to stay focused on oneself and reality without being influenced by a relationship. Suitable for family co-viewing and performed with authenticity.
Moreover, the Pulcinella Award for Pilot TV Series went to “The Soldier of Crimson Mountain” (Italy), directed and produced by Danila Trapani. The romantic story, the high quality, and the cinematic animation style impressed the jury, along with the fact that it is based on a collection of books. The Pulcinella Award for Short Films was awarded to “Dagon” (Italy), directed by Paolo Gaudo and produced by Emma Film, for its impressive animation quality, strong storytelling, and excellent direction.