Film Director Ari Folman to receive the Pulcinella Career Award at Cartoons On The Bay

Israeli film director, screenwriter and composer Ari Folman will receive the Pulcinella Career Award of the 27th edition of Cartoons On The Bay – International Festival of Animation, Transmedia and Meta-Arts, an event promoted by Rai and organized by Rai Com, which is returning to Pescara, following the success of the previous year, from May 31 to June 4, 2023.

Ari Folman attends the Tel Aviv Film School and in 1991 he writes and directs, together with Ori Sivan, "Comfortably Numb", a documentary which narrates a nocturnal trip to Tel Aviv during the Iranian attacks of the First Gulf War, and wins the Ophir Award of the Israeli Academy of Film and the Jerusalem Film Festival as Best Documentary.

In 1996, he debuts in fiction film-making writing and directing (again with Ori Sivan) "Clara Hakedosha", which opens the Panorama section at the Berlin Festival and wins 6 Ophir Awards, among them for Best Film and Best Director, in addition to the Special Jury Prize at the Karlovy Vary Festival.

In 2001, he writes and directs "Made in Israel", winning two more Ophir Awards. Between 2002 and 2004, he writes for Israeli TV the "Betipul" ("In Treatment") series. In 2008, he writes, directs and produces the animated documentary "Valzer with Bashir", presented at the Cannes Film Festival, which in 2009 wins the Golden Globe for best foreign film and is nominated at the Oscars for best foreign film. The film wins over 26 awards worldwide, among them the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement, 6 Ophir Awards, among them for Best Film, Film Director and Screenplay.

In 2013, he directs "The Congress", shot with mixed media, live action and rotoscope animation, starring Robin Wright, who plays a fictionalized version of herself, alongside Harvey Keitel. The film which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, wins the Award for Best Animated Feature at the EFAs - European Film Award. In 2021, he writes and directs "Where is Anne Frank", an animated adaptation of the Diary of Anne Frank.

The theme for the year of Cartoons On The Bay will be “Real, Unreal, Virtual. Imagined and imaginary worlds. Amid utopia, opportunity and alienation. The suspension of technological disbelief”. In June, the Festival, directed by Roberto Genovesi will confer three new Pulcinella Awards that look to the future and the industry’s capacity for innovation: Transmedia Award (to the brand capable of leading viewers to various platforms thanks to its narrative abilities), Meta Award (to the brand capable of immersing the viewer in a fascinating, stimulating and safe digital environment). Cartoons also introduces the Arlecchino Award, recognition of the creative product that was better able to narrate to the young audience the complexity of the gender topic.

Also new for the categories of the competition, with a registration deadline of March 31: Preschool TV Show (2-4 years old), Upper Preschool Show (4-6 years old), Kids TV Show (7-11 years old), Youth TV Show (11+ years old), Interactive Animation, Live Action and Hybrid Show, TV Pilot, Short Film and Animated Feature.

In the 2022 edition, the competition entries were 360, with over 1,000 accredited industry professionals taking part in the Festival, over 5,000 attendees at the events in piazza Salotto, and thousands of students who attended the previews.