ARF! Festival Turns 10: Rome Comic Art Event Returns with International Lineup

ARF! Festival, Rome's independent comic art festival, celebrates its tenth edition from May 24 to 26, 2024, at the Pelanda del Mattatoio and Città dell'Altra Economia in the Testaccio district. Founded in 2015 by Daniele "Gud" Bonomo, Paolo "Ottokin" Campana, Stefano "S3Keno" Piccoli, Mauro Uzzeo, and Fabrizio Verrocchi, the event began as a small gathering of 3,000 attendees and has grown to 15,000 visitors. The 2024 edition features international artists including Baru, Rafael Albuquerque, Vittorio Giardino, LRNZ, Dave McKean, and Sara Pichelli. The festival is organized into sections: Area Self for independent publishing, Artist Alley for international stars, Job ARF! for portfolio reviews, and Area Kids with creative workshops. Exhibitions highlight artists from France, Argentina, England, Italy, and Vietnam. The festival maintains a political stance, emphasizing antifascism and human rights, and prioritizes young talent through scouting by Francesca Protopapa and Ariel Vittori. Organizers aim to keep comics at the center of the event, distinct from broader pop culture festivals.