The Events of Black History Month Florence 2024

With the theme “Whole Rest,” Black History Month Florence will take place through February 29.

The program of events are organized according to the concept that a pause leads to regeneration and new pathways.

The Mad Art District at Le Murate (via Ghibellina) is hosting the art show “Repose and Resist” in collaboration with the Florence’s Kunsthistorische Institut and San Gimignano’s Galleria Continua.  On display are the works of Anike Joyce Sadiq, Raziel Perin, Eve Tagny, Sikelela Owen, Bradly Dever Treadaway and Nari Ward, which focus on the theme of slow time as opposed to the fast pace demanded by maximum productivity typical of today’s society.

A special screening of the Oscar-nominated film, Io Capitano will held at at 10:30 am on Thursday, February 15 at the Cinema Alfieri. In celebration of Black History Month, Stanford in Florence is partnering with Justin Thompson of Black History Month Florence to share this story of a journey of two young boys as they travel from Dakar to Europe, through the dangers of detention camps, the Sahara desert, and the Mediterranean sea.

This critically acclaimed film, which won a 13-minute standing ovation at the 80th Venice Film Festival in September 2023 and was selected to compete for the Golden Lion, has been described as “emotionally searing but ultimately uplifting” according to the Hollywood Reporter and as a “contemporary Odyssey” by the Venice Biennale.

The event will begin with opening remarks followed by the showing of the entire film, including never before seen contributions and comments from director Matteo Garrone. To follow the screening will be Q&A with event organizers. The intro and Q&A will be held in English, while the film will be screened in Italian with English subtitles.

Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the screening. They can be purchased directly at the ticket office of the Cinema Alfieri (via dell’Ulivo, 8, Firenze), at a special price of €5.