Cartoons on the Bay, the traditional showcase for international TV animation, returns from 19th “” 22nd April. Having reached its eleventh edition, it has decided to swap the picturesque venue of Positano for the larger setting of Salerno.
“I expect the festival to grow on a professional as well as a public level in this new setting “” says Alfio Bastiancich, the event’s director “” as there is a fully equipped conference center for increasing the business side as well as a video library with 50 monitors for viewing the international showcase.”
The selection includes 162 programs from 30 countries, 40 of which are in competition, divided into 8 categories. Of particular note this year are the proposals from Estonia, Croatia, Israel, Poland, Singapore and Taiwan. Wolfgang Wegmann, (WDR, Germany), Jan-Willem Bult (KRO Youth TV, Holland), Beth Gardiner, (Playhouse Disney, United States), Céline Limorato, (France 5, France) and director Maurizio Forestieri for Italy are the members of the jury which will choose the winners of the 12 “Pulcinella” Awards.
“Of course, it’s not Positano, but it is still a great seaside venue, with large terraces, the beach below, and so, in one way or another, the charm of the Amalfi Coast remains intact”, guarantees Bastiancich. While the intimate atmosphere at Positano made it easier to forge relationships and alliances, every day in Salerno delegates will be able to lunch together at a Cartoon Forum style buffet, in the same conference center by the sea, and the marquee in which evening screenings were held will be replaced by a 700 seat movie theater. “The core of the conferences “” continues Bastiancich “” will be the presentation of the programs in competition through a series of meetings with the respective film-makers who will have a chance to illustrate their artistic and production choices, thus strengthening the ties between art and industry.
From Japan to the United States to Europe, there has been a great response from producers.” Special attention will be paid to Germany, this edition’s guest country, with a series of round tables involving Italian producers, Germany’s historical partners.
There will also be a meeting between associations of animation producers from the main European countries, including France, the festival’s patron.
As always, the “Pulcinella” Awards “” which this year will include an award for best soundtrack “” will be enriched by a full program of special events, conferences and meetings with film-makers, directors and producers, as well as Italian and foreign TV bosses promoted, according to Festival tradition, by the Rai and realized by Rai Trade in association with Rai Fiction.
There will also be space for feature film premieres starting with Disney’s “Meet the Robinsons”, to be released in June, which will open the festivities in Salerno.

Cinema&Video   3/4-2007