The Venice International Film Festival, the world’s oldest and most prestigious film festival, has unveiled its lineup for 2023. In alignment with Akoroko’s mission to highlight African narratives, this year’s selection features films that tell Senegalese, Tunisian, and Egyptian stories.
One of the anticipated films is Matteo Garrone’s “Io Capitano”. Initially predicted to premiere at Cannes 2023, the film will instead make its debut in Venice.
An Italian trailer for “Io Capitano” is available online, although it does not have English subtitles.
The film is described as a “Homeric tale” that follows the adventurous journey of two Senegalese youngsters, Seydou and Moussa, who leave Dakar for Europe. This modern-day Odyssey traverses the perils of the desert, the dangers of the sea, and the ambiguities of human beings.
It was shot in Italy, Morocco, and Senegal, marking the first time that Garrone — a two-time Cannes jury prize winner — has set a feature film outside of Italy.
The main cast includes newcomers Seydou Sarr and Moustapha Fall.
Details about the other two films remain under wraps, but we will provide updates as more information becomes available.
While the Venice Film Festival is not traditionally known as a hub for African films, it has consistently included one or two African stories in its lineup each year.
In the previous year, the festival was the stage for the world premiere of Alice Diop’s “Saint Omer.” The film was awarded the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize and the Luigi De Laurentiis Lion of the Future Award, marking a significant achievement for African cinema.
Similarly, the year before that, Ellie Foumbi’s “Our Father, the Devil” (“Mon père, le diable”) also had its world premiere at the festival. The film is set to be released later this summer.
The 80th Venice International Film Festival runs from August 30 to September 9 in Venice, Italy.
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