In an era in which hatred seems to speak louder than reason and borders stand as insurmountable barriers, there is a place where cinema becomes an act of resistance, a gesture of welcome, an open window on the world we don’t see. It’s the SOUQ Film Festivalnow in its 12th edition, which from 24 to 26 October will transform the Anteo Palazzo del Cinema in Milan into a crossroads of stories, glances and voices that tell the complexity of the present.
Promoted by House of Charitythe festival is not just a film festival: it is a manifesto of humanityan invitation to look beyond stereotypes, to listen to those who are too often reduced to a news story or a number. Thirty films, from 16 countries, address topics such as migration, climate crisis, war, gender identity, human rights and mental healthoffering the Milanese public an unprecedented look at realities that challenge indifference.
A cinema that gives voice to those who have none
«In a time full of hatred and ugliness, we believe that culture is an essential tool for opening gaps, generating dialogue, building mutual understanding», he states Don Paolo Selmipresident of the Casa della Carità. The SOUQ does not exhibit pain, but restores dignity: shows the strength, creativity and resistance of those who, even in the most difficult conditions, continue to fight for a better future.
Among the films in competition, works that stand out they talk about the war in Gaza and Ukraine, discrimination against women, youth hardship and environmental challenges. A program which, as underlined by the artistic director Delia De Fazio«wants to build a different, truer and deeper narrative, beyond pre-established models».
Special screenings and young protagonists
The festival will open with “Cutting Through Rocks”a documentary already awarded at Sundance and Giffoni, which addresses the theme of human resistance in extreme contexts. On the final evening, space for the short film “The day of the bride’s clothes”created with the contribution of the Casa della Carità.
But the SOUQ is also a festival for and with the new generations: students from high schools and the Catholic University of Milan will be protagonists with the Youth Jury, while the Liceo Virgilio will present the short films made during the project “Diversity and rights, a common resource”a training course on immigration, mental health and gender identity.
The SOUQ Film Festival is not limited to showing films: it creates bridges, stimulates reflection, invites commitment. It’s an opportunity to discover that cinema can be much more than entertainment: it can be a political gesture, an act of justice, a concrete hope.
Free entry, for everyone. Because stories that change the world must be accessible to anyone who wants to hear them.
