The Pulcinella Career Awards will be presented to director Kirk Wise (Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and world-renowned video game creator Don Daglow. The ceremony will take place at the Aurum in Pescara during the 30th edition of the International Animation and Transmedia Festival (May 27–30)
Animation and gaming giants Kirk Wise and Don Daglow will be the highlights of the 30th edition of Cartoons On The Bay, the International Animation and Transmedia Festival. Promoted by Rai and organized by Rai Com, the event will be held in Pescara from May 27 to 30 under the direction of Adriano Monti Buzzetti.
The Festival, produced in collaboration with the Abruzzo Region and the City of Pescara, will grant Pulcinella Career Awards to:
Kirk Wise: The director widely known for Disney masterpieces such as Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
Don Daglow: The legendary video game author and master of simulation and role-playing games.
To mark its 30th anniversary, the festival will feature a rich program of professional and public events held at the historic Aurum building and other key locations throughout the city.
Official Poster: Designed by Francesca Ghermandi, the artwork features a mermaid wearing a Pulcinella hat emerging from the waters of Pescara.
Special Exhibition: A tribute dedicated to the 40th anniversary of Dylan Dog, the “Nightmare Investigator” created by Tiziano Sclavi, a character who has captivated generations of readers.
The heart of the Festival remains the Pulcinella Awards, a competition divided into seven different categories, and the Pitch Me! contest for animation projects.
This year, thanks to an agreement with Cartoon Media (The European Association of Animation), the winner of Pitch Me! will earn the opportunity to present their project at Cartoon Springboard, scheduled for November 3–5, 2026, in Madrid.
