A number of high-profile, arthouse Italian films will be screened online this weekend at a virtual film festival, organised by Cinema Italia UK with support from our Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies.

The event, ‘Donne di mafia’ (Mafia women), which coincides with International Women's Day, has been organised with Dr Felia Allum, specialist on the subject who is currently undertaking a Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship focused on women, crime and culture.

Dr Allum is author of the acclaimed book ‘The Invisible Camorra’ which traces Neapolitan crime families across Europe. Last year, off the back of this book, her work inspired a major BBC documentary into Gennaro Panzuto – an ex Mafia boss, who ended up living a secret hideaway life in Lancashire in the UK.

Commenting, she said: "These films have been chosen for this online mini Italian film festival organised by CinemaItalia UK because they highlight in very different ways, the often-ignored perspective of women, their voices and roles. It is hoped that they will give food for thought on a topic that can easily fall into stereotypes about the extent and nature of women's involvement in mafia activities and organised crime in general. Moreover, there are also three interesting Q & A sessions between the two films each day where the audience will be able ask questions.

"This mini film festival represents an important opportunity for us in the UK to carry on talking about Italian mafias in the UK in order to understand them better and fight them more efficiently."

This weekend’s festival features a range of films and talks, including:

Saturday 6th of March:

Sunday 7th of March:

Monday 8th of March:

Listen to Felia talk about the festival on radio. Also available in Italian.