Il Moro is a short film about the first black man to become a head of state in Renaissance Europe.
Alessandro de’ Medici is legitimised into the most prestigious Italian family, but he keeps on being haunted by the stigma of his low birth, inherited from a mother he only barely remembers. When he unexpectedly becomes the first Duke of Florence, Alessandro is forced to face his real father’s inability to accept him and fend off his cousin’s power hungry attacks, while strengthening his self-awareness and his roots. Based on true events.
Following the film screening, director-writer-producer, Daphne Di Cinto will lead a question and answer session with audience members.
Daphne Di Cinto is a Black Italian screenwriter, director and actor. She began her film and theatre studies in Rome, where she focused on acting at Scuola di Cinema, while getting her degree in Communication Science at Roma Tre University. She attended the faculty of cinema at Sorbonne University in Paris before moving to New York for her Master in Fine Arts at the Actors Studio Drama School. At the moment she lives in London, but is still very much connected to Italy. As a screenwriter, she has developed both features and series within various genres, from comedy to sci-fi, with a keen interest in topics such as historical memory, ethnic identity, migrations and the female gaze.
Daphne played the Duchess of Hastings in the Netflix series Bridgerton.
While developing a series based on the life of Alessandro de’ Medici, Daphne has written directed and produced the Oscar qualifying short film Il Moro-The Moor, her directorial debut, which has garnered success both in the festival circuit and in prestigious academic institutions. Following a petition started by Di Cinto, the Council of Florence has voted in favour of recognising Alessandro de’ Medici’s name by placing it in front of his tombstone, where it previously had been omitted.
Daphne has received the Cultured Focus Visionary in Film Award during the 79th Venice Film Festival and the Leader of Change in Creativity Award at the 2023 Black Carpet Awards.
Watch the trailer for Il Moro -The Moor.
How to attend the film screening:
This is a public film screening open to all. Though, registration is required for each event. Visit Eventbrite.
Email ih.events@lse.ac.uk if you have any questions about the event.