Not so far away are the ruins of ancient Rome. A great day expedition from the festival! © Heather Kenyon.

All in all, my short week in Genzano raced by in the darkness of the theater and the great camaraderie with my fellow festivalgoers. I Castelli is one of those fests where everyone stays in the same hotel, eats at the same fabulous restaurants and sits in the intimate theater together for one week. There is no rushing or choosing between 10 concurrent screenings. The schedule is relaxed, allowing plenty of time for discussion, long lunches and walks around town. Children from local schools will be brought for a few screenings, turning the usual quiet and reverence into absolute pandemonium. Local people who are curious or enjoy the yearly event also arrive in the evenings. And the core, animation diehards, leave, knowing each other much better, having spent quality time. I Castelli is a small festival, but it is full of surprises.

And if you are really concerned about the approaching holidays, with their crushing pace and boring, mall bought gifts, stay a few extra days… there are the little shops in Genzano and the picturesque town down the hill, Albano. And beyond that, there’s always the immense pageantry of Rome.

Heather Kenyon is director of development for Cartoon Network and focuses on finding new comedy shows for 6- to 11-year-old children. As former editor-in-chief of Animation World, she holds a soft spot in her heart for her time spent at the publication and its lovely staff.