Works and authors at the highest global levels compete every year for the highest Italian recognition reserved for the world of the Ninth Art: this year too the Lucca Comics Awards, the “Oscars” of our country’s comics. Until June 28th, publishing houses will be able to propose the titles they have published and a qualified jury will select the excellence of the last year, to identify the finalist works. There are six traditional categories in which the works and their respective authors will compete, who will be awarded during Lucca Comics & Games 2024 (30 October – 3 November), during the official ceremony at the Teatro del Giglio: Yellow Kid Comic of the Year, Yellow Kid Author of the Year, Gran Guinigi Best Short Comic or Collection, Gran Guinigi Best Serial Comic, Gran Guinigi Best Drawing, Gran Guinigi Best Screenplay. During the evening, the Lucca Comics Awards will also be presented which, due to their uniqueness and particularity, are independent of the year’s selection: Yellow Kid Maestra/Maestro Del Comics, Gran Guinigi Best Newcomer, Gran Guinigi for an Editorial Initiative – Stefano Award Beani. The Jury called to award Yellow Kid and Gran Guinigi will be made up of two critics or journalists, two authors and a member of the cultural staff of Lucca Comics & Games.
This edition also opens a new category, intended to recognize the best of comics production for male and female readers between the ages of 6 and 12: the Generations Award, which will enjoy a separate selection and will be assigned by a dedicated Jury, different from that of the other Lucca Comics Awards, made up of an author, an art director and an expert, all with specific skills in the field of children’s productions.
And it doesn’t end here: the desire is to recognize all the professionalism linked to the Ninth Art, with the establishment of technical awards called Gran Guinigi Pro dedicated to colour, cover, lettering, editorial packaging and translation (English, French and Japanese) and intended also to works not registered in the Lucca Comics Awards. Publishing houses and authors will in fact be able to indicate those they deem worthy of consideration: the prizes will then be assigned by the cultural staff of the Festival; announcement and delivery will follow dedicated methods.
All information is available on the dedicated website www.luccacomicsawards.com (where the roll of honor has also been published with the list of all the comics awards awarded in Lucca from 1966 to 2023).
Activities to support the participation of comics professionals also continue: this year the possibility of requesting author passes for the next edition of Lucca Comics & Games has been further anticipated, following the procedures indicated in the area dedicated to the site. Therefore, from a few days ago all artistic figures who work in the field of comics production (story writer, screenwriter, illustrator, inker, colourist, cover artist, translator, letterer) can request the entrance ticket by presenting the Required documentation. Fantasy authors (including those who create genre illustrations published by publishing houses) will also be able to request their pass. By September 22nd all regularly accredited people will receive an official confirmation, thus guaranteeing the possibility of best organizing their presence in Lucca from October 30th to November 3rd.
