CATANIA – The twelfth edition of the International Festival of Comics, Games and Pop Culture kicked off with new spaces and completely redesigned routes. From Etna Comics Plaza to Zo – Centro Culture Contemporanee, passing through the pavilions of the Le Ciminiere exhibition centre, this year the colors of the event have embraced an extra slice of the city, thanks to the precious collaboration with the Municipality of Catania and Fce. And so Piazza Giovanni XXIII has become the scene of a large party parallel to the event where, until Sunday, without a ticket, it will be possible to sip a drink between good music and tasty food, enjoying an unusual and absolutely different perspective of this part of the city.
A great start, launched by the usual enthusiasm of the many who couldn’t wait to go back through the gates of the structure which since 2011 has hosted an event that has grown exponentially in numbers and offer. The first day was officially kicked off by the traditional cutting of the ribbon, in the presence of the mayor of the municipality and metropolitan city of Catania, Enrico Trantino, the president of the ARS, Gaetano Galvagno, the vice commissioner, Manuela Recca, the head of cabinet of the Etna prefecture, Antonio Gullì, and Pietro Bacci of Poliziamoderna, the official magazine of the State Police.
An explosion of colors to frame a busy program of events, with Zerocalcare, author of this year’s poster, protagonist of a conference together with Ester Cardella, who created the variant poster. Two works linked by the same common thread: the homage to the famous Nobel Prize winner for literature, Luigi Pirandello. Great enthusiasm in Artist Alley for the two Americans Darick Robertson and Charles Vess, and for the cartoonist from Campania Mirka Andolfo, spearhead of the American giant DC Comics. Open stage applause for the Catanian actor Tuccio Musumeci, who received the Etna Comics Uzeta Award for his career, and the director Alfredo Lo Piero, engaged in a panel dedicated to the film “A journey to meet Mimì”.
Rocco Siffredi joked upon his arrival at the fair, complimenting the staff on the environment he found, welcomed by hundreds of fans in the Creator Lounge for the meeting dedicated to Supersex, the series broadcast by Netflix and inspired by the history and career of well-known actor. With him also the director Francesca Mazzoleni, originally from Catania. Closing the first day on stage, the Sicilian Opera Choir, with an emotional tribute to Franco Battiato and Ennio Morricone.
Today an equally rich program, starting from the meet&greet set for 11 in the Movie area with Ross Mullan, known to the general public for playing the White Walker in “Game of Thrones”. At 3pm in the Creator Lounge, Doppio anch’io with Fabrizio Mazzotta and the voice actors of Hazbin Hotel, Rossa Caputo and Riccardo Suarez, who will then be backstage on stage for the reunion dedicated to the animated series. Also at 3pm, in the Movie area, a preview for Italy and on the eve of the European Championships in Germany, the meeting on “In campo 2024”, created in collaboration with the Catania Film Fest. Still protagonists, from 4pm in the Taboocom area, are the activists Clizia De Rossi and Nadia Lauricella, with Christine Puglisi.
At 4.30 pm, directly from the successful Rai series “Makari”, meeting in the Movie area with the actors Ester Pantano and Domenico Centamore. Starting at 8.30 pm, in the Palco area, the tenth edition of the Angelo D’Arrigo Prize, presented by Ruggero Sardo and delivered to the cartoonist Zerocalcare and the biologist Barbara Gallavotti, which will also see the participation of Francesco Centorame, Ester Pantano, Giovanni Arezzo, Ruggero Galli and Giancane. The evening will be enriched by the Nanowar of Steel concert. To access the event it will be necessary to collect the bracelet at the stand of the Angelo D’Arrigo foundation, with a minimum donation of 12 euros.
