Zecchino d'Oro Zecchino d'Oro Zecchino d'Oro (; meaning "Golden Sequin") is an international children's song festival that has taken place every year since 1959. It is broadcast by Rai 1. It was started by Cino Tortorella, and the first two festivals were held in Milan. In 1961, the festival was taken up by the Antoniano Institute and moved to Bologna. In 2009, Cino Tortorella left Zecchino d'Oro. In 1963, Mariele Ventre, a conductor and director of young performers, created the Piccolo Coro dell'Antoniano Children's Choir (called Piccolo Coro "Mariele Ventre" dell'Antoniano after her death in 1995, and directed by Sabrina Simoni). From
Ferdinand Zecca Ferdinand Zecca Ferdinand Zecca (19 February 1864 – 23 March 1947) was a pioneer French film director, film producer, actor and screenwriter. He worked primarily for the Pathé company, first in artistic endeavors then in administration of the internationally based company. Ferdinand Louis Zecca was born in Paris on 19 February 1864 into a family steeped in the entertainment world. His father was the stage manager at the Paris "Théâtre de l'Ambigu" while his brothers were actors. Zecca also became a stage manager and then an actor, before working as an entertainer, playing the cornet and singing in Parisian cafés.