PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EMBASSY OF ITALY

Two teenagers, Seydou and Moussa, decide to leave their hometown of Dakar in Senegal and following their dreams of musical stardom all the way to Italy. Despite being repeatedly warned about the arduous journey, the allure of escaping poverty to become rich and famous is simply too enticing. But almost as soon as they depart, they find themselves confronted with all manner of tribulations: from the vastness of the Sahara desert to the horrors of detention centres in Libya to the perils of the open sea.

With his moving take on the migrant crisis, Italian director Matteo Garrone (Gomorrah, Dogman) has crafted a suspenseful contemporary odyssey that offers a unique cinematic perspective not often seen in Western media. Io Capitano is a transfixing, powerful and empathetic experience.

Nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2024 Oscars.