BARTALI'S BICYCLE - PITCH DECK

FEATURE FILM FACTS

Director

Writers

Producers

Production Studio

Running Time

Language

Genre

Country of Origin

Status

Delivery

World Wide Sales Agent

Enrico Paolantonio

Enrico Paolantonio, Francesca Frigo

Toonz Media Group, Lynx, Rai Ragazzi

Toonz Media Group

85 min

English

Animation, Adventure

Italy

In Production

2023

Toonz Entertainment & TVCO

ELBOWS IN HEAD DOWN FACE TO THE WIND

A young Jewish athlete passionate with cycling befriends an Arab boy who’s a member of the opponent team.

Following the footsteps of Gino Bartali, a champion and a hero, David and Ibra overcome the hostilities of their respective teams, breaking the prejudices that weigh the communities in the Jerusalem of our times.

A story of friendship and sports solidarity which brings us through two distinctive timelines: the risky missions of Gino Bartali in the Florence of World War II, trying to save the lives of many Jews, and the story of two modern teenagers who challenge centuries of prejudice in the name of their friendship and passion for cycling.

GINO BARTALI IS A GREAT CHAMPION AND A MODEL TO FOLLOW.

Bartali was an Italian cycling champion from Florence, from the 30s to the 50s of the last Century. During the war he did his best, at the risk of his life, to help the Jews hunted by the Nazis, smuggling false documents that provided them safe passage. His name is engraved, together with that of many other “righteous”, on a large plaque at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem.

LA BARTALA

The “Bartala”, as the boys affectionately call it, is the bicycle that the champion gave to Alberto, still young, when he left for Israel in 1947.

DAVID IS BOLD AND RESTLESS.

13 years old Israeli Jewish boy, self-confident and lively, he acts impulsively, sometimes without thinking, but he’s got a sharp mind and a generous heart. David is a member of the local Jewish club and the spearhead of his team. At the beginning of the story he starts questioning himself if the dispute between the Jewish and Muslim team are right... for Ibra’s friendship he’ll risk it all!

IBRAHIM IS KIND AND PROUD.

An Israeli Muslim boy about 13 years old. Sincere, bright, sometimes even naive! His father had registered him in the local cycling team because that is the rule of the village: it is a banner of pride and identity! Truth is he has fallen in love with the sport and the success on the bike has strengthened him!

SARAH

DAVID’S LITTLE SISTER, 7 YEARS OLD

Fresh and spontaneous, smiling and sunny, often even more cheeky than her brother. Sarah deeply admires her brother but because David easily neglects her, as he is involved in completely different matters, she funnily persists in bullying her big brother to gain his attentions!

YUVAL

DAVID’S MOTHER

A woman of about 45, black and with great hair, which she wears pushed back.

Beautiful woman with a thin, almost sharp face. She is a Sephardic Jewwith a Middle Eastern air. Dress with discretion, in line with his silences.

Big eyes and observers. Nothing escapes her. She shares her husband’s concernsfor her son but, like a good Mediterranean mother, she is ready to fight like a lionessto defend her children.

SHAUL

GRANDPA ALBERTO

GRANDFATHER OF DAVID AND SARAH

Peaceful after a well-spent life, of a solid and happy family, Alberto is a serene elderly man who deeply worries of his beloved grandchildren. Alberto is a happy heart, a man inclined to joke, a good-spirited grandfather who’s also a mentor for David.

DAVID’S FATHER

A man of about 50, he partly resembles his father Alberto but is shorter and more robust, with sturdy arms and hands of a practical man.

A layman Jew, he is the defender of realism, of the reasonable acceptance that things are as they are and changing them is just a utopia.

He is good-natured, like everyone in the family, but little inclined to ideal flights and this makes him an obstacle despite himself for a good part of history. But he is also a loyal man and knows how to recognize his mistakes and make amends.

IBRA’S FAMILY

SALMA

GRANDMOTHER OF IBRAHIM AND HASSAN

She’s a plump, jovial lady with a quick and sharp sense of humor. Unshakable optimist she’s a natural ally of our heroes, whom she supports without reserve. An energetic woman, not at all intimidated by the Muslim patriarchal and tribal culture...a real force of nature!

HASSAN IBRAHIM’S BROTHER

He’s an Israeli Muslim boy in his twenties. Responsible and apparently harsh. Hassan does not support the friendship between Ibra and David because of the prejudices between their two communities.

KHALID

COUSIN OF IBRAHIM

He’s a Palestinian boy who lives on the other side of the wall. This makes it extremely difficult for him to come to Israel, although not impossible. Like his cousin, Khalid is a great cyclist. Once his trust is won, Khalid is loyal and, with his physical strength and cunning, he is an important asset in team play.

Resolute and self-confident, Hassan is a fighter who hides a great kindness of soul that shows taking care of his family that he loves very much.

CREATED BY ISRAEL CESARE MOSCATI WRITTEN BY ISRAEL CESARE MOSCATI MARCO BERETTA

Forgetting the past means forgetting the future so... let’s tell new generations what it was, through the actions of a generous and courageous man to inspire their future. A superhero? Nope! A champion and, before that, a simple man but with a big heart.

Starting from this desire and from the sporting and human story of the great Florentine champion Gino Bartali, Bartali’s Bicycle is a story of peace and solidarity in a difficult reality like the one of the Middle East.

The main character of the story is Gino Bartali’s bicycle, the so called “Bartala”, the same bicycle with which Bartali carried fake documents to save hundreds of people from the Nazi-Fascist barbarism that oppressed Italy and Europe. This symbol, La Bartala leads us to Jerusalem, sixty years later. Here, Bartali’s bicycle becomes the symbol of the victory of David, a bright and kind Israeli Jewish boy who befriends Ibrahim, an Israeli Muslim boy with whom he establishes a strong friendship and with whom he dreams of winning a cycling championship, violating the rules but bringing peace and tolerance among their communities.

Israel Moscati and Marco Beretta therefore conceived a story where sport and solidarity can overcome prejudices, differences and pride in contemporary society. This story speaks to modern generations bombarded by bulky gender stereotypes that want to define what they are or should be, depriving them of their freedom. And so, our protagonists, challenging everything and everyone, teach us that being different and daring makes us unique.

DIRECTED BY ENRICO PAOLANTONIO

It’s a great pleasure for me to work on this film with Corrado Mastantuono and Andrea Pucci. Corrado managed to characterize our heroes by blending them perfectly into the story, showing both their strength and their humanity. Andrea, on the other hand, with his ability to combine a rich and rigorous design with bright and evocative lights and color, gives us suggestive sets, providing backgrounds that act as silent actors, creating emotional scenes. The sporting competition that brings the drama of the two boys will have a spectacular and pressing direction, but the narration will also insist on the human dimension of the characters, their fragility as their strength, but also their irony and their lightness.

BACKGROUND DESIGN

ANDREA PUCCI

Background artist, illustrator and author of projects for animation and graphic novel. His collaborations goes from advertising to illustrations and comics for publishing to international television series, such as “The Extraordinary Adventures of Jules Verne” (Rai-Lux Vide-Musicartoon), “Egyxos” (deakids-Musicartoon) and “Pet Pals” (Rai-Gruppo Alcuni).

CHARACTERS DESIGN

CORRADO MASTANTUONO

Corrado Mastantuono is a well known author for Disney and Bonelli, known at European level for its great versatility. “Nick Raider”, “Magico Vento”, “Deadwood Dick”, “Tex” are the publications of Bonelli in which he has collaborated since 1993. In 2004, he joined the French market with the fantasy “Elias le maudit” for the publishing house Humanoïdes Associés.

CEO / EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - LYNX

EVELINA POGGI

Deciding to make an animated feature film was an exciting challenge, even more exciting for the topics covered, so important for an audience of children and families. Bartali’s selfless and courageous gesture for those persecuted by the Shoah becomes a winning message for the protagonists of our story. Altruism in life, solidarity in sport, friendship and civil coexistence: a charge of energy for the new generations of young athletes and kids who are approaching this film. It’s wonderful to share this journey with partners such as Toonz Media Group, Telegael and with Rai Kids who has supported the idea from the beginning.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - LYNX

SABRINA CALLIPARI

There are many Italian artists and professionals involved in this work, and the whole team is very passionate about this story. When you have the chance to entertain and educate, you know you can’t but support projects like these! This 80 minutes film mixes an original tale with references to the incredible story of Gino Bartali. The realistic style meets a dreamlike and visionary vein giving shape to the dream of the protagonist David for the future of his land. The idea was born from Israel Cesare Moscati, who passed away in 2019. It is wonderful to share its making with great artists such as Enrico Paolantonio, Marco Beretta, Corrado Mastantuono and Andrea Pucci.

CEO - TOONZ MEDIA GROUP

P JAYAKUMAR

Bartali’s Bicycle is a story that will resonate with audiences all across the world. It is exactly the kind of story that Toonz is committed to relate to the younger generation. This is, indeed, a prestigious project for Toonz and we are very excited to team up with our amazing partners Lynx, Rai Kids, TVCO and Telegael for this international co-production.

CEO - TELEGAEL

PAUL CUMMINS

Bartali’s Bicycle is a very emotional story which is inspired by the heroic and humanitarian actions of champion cyclist, Gino Bartali, during World War II. Telegael is delighted to partner with Lynx, RAI, TVCO and Toonz to co-produce this animated feature and to bring the story of David and Ibrahim to children’s and family audiences around the world.

RAI KIDS

LUCA MILANO (DIRECTOR) / ANNITA ROMANELLI (PRODUCER)

Gino Bartali was not only a great cycling champion, but a man who risked his life to fight racism and discrimination and for this he was honored as Righteous among the nations. In a world still plagued by wars and conflicts, his fast and brave bicycle is a symbol of peace for kids and families. That is why RAI has promoted the project of this important film from the very beginning.

ARIEL VENEZIANO

President Feature Film

ariel@toonzmediagroup.com

USA +1 (310) 266-3087 | EUR +41 22 757 54 71

GULSHAN DAVID

VP - Content Distribution & Sales

gulshan@toonzmediagroup.com

EUR +34 638 803 328

VINCENZO MOSCA

CEO TVCO

vincenzo@tvco.eu

+39 335 273 654

SIMONETTA POLESE

Head of Sales

simonetta@tvco.eu

+39 33 949 89 308