Pisa's Fumetti & Popcorn Festival Celebrates the Bond Between Comics and Cinema

The Fumetti & Popcorn festival, running from May to October 2023 in Pisa, explores the long and complex relationship between comics and cinema. Directed by Alessandra Ioalè and organized by Cineclub Arsenale, the event is dedicated to the memory of cartoonist Tuono Pettinato. It kicks off on May 19 with a tribute to animation master Bruno Bozzetto, who will present his latest graphic novel Tugèin (co-created with Grégory Panaccione) and screen his debut film West and Soda (1965). Other highlights include Paolo Bacilieri presenting his new comic Venere privata on May 24; Massimo Giacon discussing the future of comics and audiovisual in the AI era on October 6; emerging artists Eliana Albertini and Gero Arnone showcasing their collection La vita della mia ex per come la immagino io; the premiere of Zhang Chi's film Annular Eclipse on June 21 at Parco delle Concette; a tribute to Walt Disney on September 5 with live scoring of Mickey Mouse silent shorts; and a screening of Hideaki Anno's Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007). The festival features over twenty events and more than fifteen guests, including cartoonists, directors, and industry figures.