The Festival returns to Rimini, as usual in July. For its XXXVIII edition, the Festival celebrates Diabolik's 60th anniversary, with exhibitions, meetings and shows.
This year's theme is the Environmental Emergency, with numerous initiatives all dedicated to safeguarding the environment.
The Festival is widespread in the most evocative places in Rimini. The historic center, with the very central Piazza Francesca da Rimini, is the seat of the screenings of the short films in competition, the court of the Augustinians hosts premieres and awards; the City Museum, hosts exhibitions, meetings, workshops, master classes and special projects; the square on the water in front of the historic Tiberius Bridge inaugurates a real village dedicated to children and families with dedicated events. It is Cartoon Kids, a space immersed in the greenery of the Marecchia Park with games, shows and magical encounters with the characters of the most loved cartoons. Guests of honor on 15 July Erick and Dominick, the youtubers much followed by the little ones.
From 14 to 17 July, in Piazzale Federico Fellini the traditional village is set up for the the traditional Riminicomix market exhibition, now in its twenty-fifth edition, with a large stage for concerts and performances of the Cosplay Convention; the Palazzo del Turismo is the venue for meetings with authors and professionals in the sector, while the beach comes alive with highly original live drawing performances.
Franco Matticchio, esteemed illustrator and painter who has worked with important publishing companies, is this year's guest of honor. In the 1980s he created his most famous character, the blindfolded cat 'Mr. Jones', star of recently reprinted cartoons and comic strips.
A solo exhibition is dedicated to Matticchio, from 11 to 17 July at the Augeo Art Space in Rimini. The exhibition, organized by Cartoon Club, is an opportunity to discover or admire the art of the author for the first time through sketches, paintings and tributes.
The poster for this edition, created by Giulia Massaglia and Stefania Caretta, sees Diabolik with the inseparable Eva Kant as protagonists, and in the background, the wheel and the Grand Hotel, icons of the city of Rimini. An exhibition is dedicated to them at the “Luigi Tonini” City Museum, created in collaboration with the Astorina publishing house. The exhibition tells the story of the creators of the character, Angela and Luciana Giussani, the different screenwriters and editors who have joined them, but also the illustrator Kalissa, author of the second album, and of course Eva, without whom the adventures of the elusive criminal would not be the same. Dedicated to Diabolik are also the meetings with the authors and a concert in the Corte degli Agostiniani, in which an orchestra plays live music from the soundtracks of Ennio Morricone and Pivio & Aldo De Scalzi, as well as other pieces related to the King of Terror, while the guest cartoonists draw live on a big screen.
New this year is the birth of Joy Rimini, the show dedicated to games and pop culture in the pavilions of the Rimini Fair from 15 to 17 July, promoted by Italian Exibition Group and Fandango Club Creators in close collaboration with Cartoon Club. A synergy born from the awareness that Cartoon Club is a reality of our city recognized and appreciated by all.