The Festival’s home in the heart of Milan

Since 2008, the Festival Center has been the meeting point  for the guests and  the public of the African, Asian and Latin American Film Festival in the Casello Ovest di Porta Venezia – Casa del Pane in Milan, thanks to the collaboration of Confcommercio.

The Festival Center is the true home of the Festival, and every year it hosts the info point, exclusive exhibitions, meetings with the guests and events about the cultures of Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Workshops for kids and adults, tastings, happy hours, weekend brunches, live music and dj sets: the Festival Center became a real festival within the festival, an occasion for everyone to relax and have fun between screenings.

The History of the Festival Center

The Festival Center is set up inside an exclusive venue: Casa del Pane, one of the two former customs buildings in Porta Venezia, symbols of the neighborhood and the city of Milan.
Casa del Pane, together with its twin building, was built between 1827 and 1828 where the historical “Porta Venezia” used to be.

Nowadays, throughout the year, this location hosts important cultural and artistic initiatives.

During the Festival, the building becomes the Festival Center, and since 2008 has been the main location for many meetings with national and international guests and exclusive exhibitions.

All the exhibitions at the Festival Center

Since 2008 the Festival Center presented many exhibitions in collaboration with prestigious international festivals, magazines, photographers and artists from all over the world.

2018 | TCHAMBA

Photo exhibition by Nicola Lo Calzo courtesy by L’Agence à Paris // 18 shots that explore the complexity of Tchamba, a unique vodoo ritual practiced in Togo and Benin. Italian preview. 

2017 | WHERE FUTURE BEATS

By various artists. Photo exhibition in collaboration with LagosPhoto Festival and AAF. // 40 exclusive works made by young African artists who are citizens of the world and question the concept of identiy between tradition and modernity. Italian preview.

2016 | DESIGNING AFRICA 3.0

By various artists. Photo exhibition in collaboration with LagosPhoto Festival and AAF // 60 photos, 10 photographers, one video artist and a performance to explore the different concepts of contemporary design in Africa. Italian preview within the XXI Triennale.

2015 | LES CLASSES MOYENNES EN AFRIQUE

photo exhibition by Joan Bardeletti in collaboration with Marie Claire // 40 images shot between Senegal, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Ghana, Uganda, Mozambico and South Africa to paint a portrait of the new African middle class. Italian preview.

2014 | ONE DAY IN AFRICA. TWENTY-FOUR HOURS IN THE LIFE OF THE REAL CONTINENT

By various artists. Photo exhibition in collaboration with Africa Rivista, Agenzia LUZ and Parallelo Zero // 40 images to represent Africa from dusk to dawn, the everyday life of a vibrant continent. Italian preview.

“Lezioni di ballo in Sudafrica” by Marco Garofalo

2013 | CREATIVE SYRIA

By various artists. Exhibition curated by Donatella Della Ratta // A selection of works, videos, music, graffitis and poetry made by known and emerging Syrian artists and by unknown contributors to show the resistence od civil society. Italian preview.

“Il bacio di Klimt” by Tammam Azzam

2012 | GOODMORNING AFRICA!

By various artists Photo exhibition in collaboration with Africa Rivista // 40 shots of 26 photographers from Cairo to Capetown, to portray Africa in an original way, capturing its vitality. Italian preview.

“Cinema all’aperto in Burkina Faso” by Andrea Frazzetta

2011 | MAMI WATA VODU SIREN

By various artists. Exhibition made in collaboration with Centro Studi Archeologia Africana // An eclectic installation of statues, mannequins, necklaces from the followers of the goddess from Togo, Benin and Ghana, and posters of African films, to discover Mamy Wata, noman goddess worshipped in many African countries. Milan preview.

“Mami Wata”

2010 | L'AFRICA NEL PALLONE

By various artists. Exhibition in collaboration with Africa Rivista // 35 shots about football from 20 photographers from all over the world, in occasion of the first World Cup games ever played in Africa. Italian preview.

“Palleggiando si può guardare il cielo” by Riccardo Venturi

2009 | GENTLEMEN OF BAKONGO- BRAZZAVILLE

Photo exhibition by Daniele Tamagni // A journey among the “sapeurs” of Bakongo, historical neighborhood of Brazzaville in Congo, the heart of “sape”, elegance. Elegance is highly considered in Africa, and fashion is a symbol of cultural belonging. Italian preview.

“Gentlemen of Bakongo-Brazzaville” by Daniele Tamagni

Find out what happened at the Festival Center during the 2018 edition.