Festina Lente: make haste slowly
Festina Lente is more than a motto – it’s a reminder that beauty is not found in haste but in stillness and reflection.
It’s a modern Renaissance.
Presenter Roy Yu travels across continents to revive this ancient motto and rediscover beauty in slowness and art.
FESTINA LENTE
Friday, February 27
Doors | 6:00PM
Film | 6:30PM
ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA TORONTO
496 Huron St | Toronto ON
FREE ADMISSION | REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Festina Lente was a classical adage adopted by Augustus, Titus, and the Medicis to symbolise the balance between swift actions and thoughtful reflections. in this documentary directed by Deniz Somuncuoğlu, presenter Roy Yu takes on a journey that spans across three continents to give this ancient wisdom its rightful place and significance in modern society. With each step, he reflects upon the delicate interplay between art, time, and self. Through intimate encounters with classical artworks and contemporary artisans, Roy invites us to slow down, to savour the fleeting, and to rediscover the timeless. Festina Lente is more than a motto: It’s a modern Renaissance.
Festina Lente presents exclusive interviews with Samuele Lastrucci, director of the Museo de’ Medici, as well as with renowned Italian artisans, offering an intimate look at the legacy of the Italian Renaissance and the enduring spirit of Italian craftsmanship in today’s world.
The production is proudly supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Regional Directorate of Museums of Tuscany, in collaboration with prestigious cultural institutions, including the Museo de’ Medici and the Museo di San Marco.
A Q&A with presenter Roy Yu will follow the screening.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Deniz Somuncuoğlu is a Turkish writer, director and actor with a driving passion of telling stories that reflect the realism of life and the expressionism of the soul. Involved in many creative mediums since childhood, he ended up adopting filmmaking as his vessel for total self-expression and self-discovery. His debut short film Blue Hour was awarded with Best Drama Short at the 2022 Anatolian Film Awards, as well as Best Director at the 2022 4th Dimension Independent Film Festival.
Presented by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto.
YEAR 2025
RUNTIME 40 min
COUNTRY Canada
GENRE Documentary
LANGUAGE: Mandarin Italian English (English subtitles)