Discorsi Mediterranei. Stories of rights, migration and international solidarity | discorsimediterranei.it | is a festival dedicated to rights, migration and international solidarity, promoted by Arci Cassandra Aps, Narrazioni Aps and Associazione Istituto di Culture Mediterranee. The initiative is supported by a broad partnership and, for the Patù stage, is part of the Storie Meridiane project, promoted by the Municipalities of Patù and Morciano di Leuca, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU and the Ministry of Culture under the PNRR Culture (M1C3I2.1 “Attractiveness of historic villages”), and of the Discorsi Mediterranei project, promoted by Arci Cassandra and funded by the Puglia Region through the 2025 public call “L.R. 20/2003 – Partnership for cooperation”.
The festival returns to the Capo di Leuca with the aim of offering spaces for reflection on the political, social and cultural issues that run through the Mediterranean basin and the Global Souths. The approach is intersectional and attentive to the links between rights, social identities, gender issues, the environment and migration, with a particular focus on new narratives of migration and of the Global Souths.
This edition, too, the festival is organised in three stages:
Patù, 18 and 19 April;
Specchia, 10 and 11 July;
Santa Maria di Leuca, 12 July.
At the heart of the festival are the talks: conversations open to the public, designed to inform, raise awareness and promote knowledge and understanding of the topics addressed, highlighting the daily commitment of people and civil society organisations to defending human rights.
Highlights of the Patù (LE) stage on 18 and 19 April include:
- 18 April, 6.30 pm
- Squarciare il velo/1. A look at independent journalism and new narratives
A panel on the work of magazines and journalists committed to these issues. With Marco Trovato, editorial director of Africa Rivista, Carmine Conelli for Arabpop and Francesca Bellini, journalist at Altreconomia.
- Squarciare il velo/1. A look at independent journalism and new narratives
- 18 April, 8.00 pm
- L’ombra lunga dell’impero. Voci afrodiscendenti tra razzismo sistemico, colonialismo e resistenza globale (Altreconomia). With the author Angelo Boccato, journalist.
- 19 April, 6.30 pm.
- Squarciare il velo/2. A look at publishing that explores the world
A panel on the work of independent publishers adopting a transfeminist, decolonial and ecological approach. With Leonardo Tosti for Q edizioni, Carmine Conelli for Tangerin and Ilaria Leccardi for Capovolte edizioni.
- Squarciare il velo/2. A look at publishing that explores the world
- 19 April, 8.30 pm
- Presentation of the book “La signora Meraviglia” (Sellerio), finalist for the Premio Strega 2025, with the author Saba Anglana, performer, singer and writer
The festival will also feature workshops for young people, a concert and a cross-media exhibition with illustrations, a web series and a podcast, all sharing the aim of helping to transform narratives and give space to plural perspectives and new imaginaries.
