Il Moro - The Moor, recently longlisted for the Oscars, delves into the extraordinary life of the first Duke of Florence in 1530, Alessandro de' Medici, who was the first black man to ascend to the position of head of state in modern Western Europe. The film presents a compelling narrative, shedding light on an oft-overlooked historical figure and his significant role in European history, drawing important parallels to the present day and the lives of Afro-European generations and significant issues that still persist in our contemporary society. Il Moro - The Moor serves as a catalyst for dialogue and social change, advocating against exclusionary, race-based practices and contributing to a broader understanding of the complexities surrounding immigration, identity, and the fight against discrimination.
Daphne Di Cinto is the director, screenwriter, and producer of Il Moro - The Moor. Her latest credits include playing the Duchess of Hastings in season one of the Netflix series Bridgerton, and she was awarded Leader of Change in Creativity at the Black Carpet Awards 2023. She holds a degree in Communication Science from Roma Tre University, attended the Cinema Faculty at the Sorbonne, and earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Actors Studio Drama School. Among many recognitions, Daphne received the Culture Focused Visionary Award at the 79th Venice Film Festival, was awarded Best Director of a foreign language film at the Madrid International Film Festival and was the winner of the Italian Black Movie Awards in 2022.