[Special Insert] Meet the Italian Delegation

For the second year, the BCBF partnered with CARTOON to strengthen the connection between books and screen media and invited a delegation of Italian publishers to explore business opportunities at Cartoon Forum.

Theo Collier, Rights Director of Feltrinelli Group

After studying French and Italian literature at Cambridge University, Theo spent eight years working as an agent and Contracts Director at The Wylie Agency in London. Since 2011, he has been serving as the Rights Director of the Feltrinelli Group, one of the leading independent publishing companies in Italy, renowned worldwide.

This is the first time that I have attended the Cartoon Forum and so I am very much looking forward to a new experience. I have handled film and television rights for authors and publishers for more than twenty years, and am eager to broaden my experience into the world of animations. Feltrinelli has an active catalogue of over 4,000 titles, including a publishing line devoted to Comics and Graphic Novels, which I hope will bring interest and inspiration to producers attending.

Giovanni Ferrara, Editorial Director at Coconino Press

Giovanni holds a degree in Contemporary History and has completed a master’s programme in creative writing. He began his career as an editor at Fandango, an independent film production and publishing group, and now serves as the Editorial Director of Coconino Press, one of Italy’s leading publishers of comics and graphic novels. He is also an author and a screenwriter, working on the animated film currently in development.

Throughout its history, Coconino Press has been the leading publisher working to grow the graphic novel d’auteur genre in Italy. In an era when interest in animated stories is growing, we believe the vast collection of stories, artwork, and voices in our catalogue could lead to exciting collaborations between the worlds of graphic novels and animation. Participating in the Cartoon Forum will be a valuable opportunity to bring these two forms of visual storytelling together.

>>>> Read our Cartoon Forum Special Insert

Roberta Ferrari, Head of Editorial at Rizzoli and Fabbri Ragazzi

Roberta has worked in publishing since 2006. She began her career as an editor for Italian fiction and non-fiction but shifted her focus to children’s publishing in 2012. In 2019, she became the Head of the Editorial Staff at Rizzoli and Fabbri Ragazzi, two historical publishing companies that are now part of the Mondadori Group.

We’ve always explored the worlds of animation and visual storytelling with curiosity, recognising the magic that emerges when words and images intertwine. Over the years, some of our most surprising and successful publishing adventures have grown from these encounters. Our presence at Cartoon Forum reflects a genuine desire to discover fresh ideas, explore new storytelling paths, and be inspired. We’re here to listen to stories, collaborate with their creators, and bring them to a second life in children’s books.

Paola Corsini, Licensing and Dramatic Rights Specialist at Editrice Il Castoro

Paola is Licensing and Dramatic Rights Specialist with extensive experience in publishing, audiovisual, entertainment and licensing. Expert in IP development and

secondary rights management, she has built her professional career in different companies, both Italian and international. In the publishing field, she has worked for a long time with Giunti Editore and, currently, with Editrice Il Castoro and Pelledoca Editore, both on the IP scouting front for the acquisition of licenses, and on the sale of film and television rights of books. She founded HAB, the first Italian agency fully dedicated to book-to-screen IPs and rights.

Cartoon Forum is one of the most interesting, lively events to attend. It delivers a wide and deep overview of what’s new in animation production market in a vibrant atmosphere. An unmissable opportunity.

Lorenzo Rulfo, General Manager at Book On a Tree

Lorenzo is the Managing Director and CFO of the creative agency Book on a Tree, which he co-founded. Over the years, he has negotiated agreements worth over £3 million with international publishers and producers, and has supported numerous authors and companies in the complex field of rights management.

Book on a Tree focuses on three things: listening to stories, nurturing them with passion, and sharing that passion with others. Cartoon Forum is the perfect stage to connect with outstanding producers and talents, and to bring dream stories to life.

>>>> Read our Cartoon Forum Special Insert

Cristina Petit, Director at Pulce Edizioni

Cristina holds a degree in Language Studies and has over twenty years of teaching experience. She currently runs Pulce Edizioni, a publishing house dedicated to child development. In addition to her publishing work, she has written and illustrated more than 100 books, receiving numerous awards, and her works have been translated into multiple languages.

We aim to create connections through in-person interactions. Meeting people face to face fosters understanding and the potential for new ideas to emerge. Organising something where human beings can meet and get to know each other is a great opportunity we shouldn’t take for granted. We hope to bring back fresh ideas that align with the opportunities we want to explore as a publishing house.

Simona Scuri, Foreign Rights Manager at Edizioni San Paolo

Writer, book curator, folk dancer, event organizer, show presenter, actress and singer, she recorded music, fairy tales and audiobooks. Simona serves as Foreign Rights Manager at Edizioni San Paolo, on leading publishing company in religious studies and children’s literature.

San Paolo publishes approximately 300 new titles each year, so why not introduce them at Cartoon Forum? Our stories convey important values such as friendship, respect, sharing, love, patience, and trust—qualities that can be transformed into films, cartoons, or series. I am also eager to learn more about the industry professionals and the behind-the-scenes aspects of this field, as it employs a different language than that of printed media.