Sacrae Scenae - Ardesio Film Festival (7)

Festival start: 15 October 2026      Festival end: 18 October 2026

Sacrae Scenae 2026: VII Edition
Cinema Narrating the Soul of the World
Returning to Ardesio, in the heart of the Orobic Prealps, is the seventh edition of Sacrae Scenae, the world’s only international film festival entirely dedicated to popular devotions. Now a landmark event, the festival transforms this historic Bergamo village into a cultural crossroads where the universal language of cinema meets the timeless allure of rituals, traditions, and the sacred.

What to Expect This Edition
The 7th edition promises to be a visual journey without borders, ranging from intimate local cults to grand international manifestations of faith. The festival is more than just a film screening; it is an immersive experience featuring:

International Screenings: A curated selection of documentaries and short films investigating the profound relationship between humanity and the divine.

Cultural Dialogue: Meetings with directors, anthropologists, and experts to delve deeper into the roots of folk traditions.

Territorial Heritage: An unbreakable bond with the identity of Ardesio and its mountains, which serve as the natural stage for this artistic exploration.

Awards of the VII Edition
In addition to the historic Golden Bell Tower (Campanile d’Oro), this year’s focus looks toward the future with the Under 30 category—established to amplify the voices of a new generation of filmmakers who choose to document the intangible through fresh and innovative perspectives.

"Sacrae Scenae is not just cinema: it is an act of cultural resilience, rescuing the deepest roots of human communities from oblivion."

Sacrae Scenae: Honoring the Visual Narrative of Devotion
Sacrae Scenae, the only international film festival dedicated exclusively to popular devotions, is held annually in Ardesio (Bergamo), celebrating the profound union between visual arts and spirituality.

The awards presented are far more than technical recognitions; they are tributes to the ability to portray the "sacred" within everyday life, centuries-old traditions, and folklore from across the globe.

Main Awards and Recognitions
The festival jury—comprised of experts in cinema, anthropology, and religious studies—evaluates the films and presents the following honors:

The Golden Bell Tower (Il Campanile d’Oro): The festival's top prize for Best Film. Named after the iconic symbol of Ardesio, it is awarded to the work that best embodies the spirit of the event, blending aesthetic and technical excellence with narrative depth.

Special Mentions - Silver Bell Tower (Campanile d’Argento): The jury may designate up to three works for special recognition based on their unique anthropological value, historical significance, or powerful emotional impact.

People’s Jury Award: This prize is awarded by a jury of local film enthusiasts. It honors the film that has most deeply resonated with the emotions of the community.

Prealpi Orobie Award: Assigned by the People’s Jury, this award recognizes the Best Film set within the territory of the Orobic Prealps.

New for this year: Under 30 Award: A special recognition assigned by the Technical Jury to the best project submitted by a director under the age of 30.

ARDESIO FILM FESTIVAL - SACRAE SCENAE
A JOURNEY INTO POPULAR DEVOTIONS AND TRADITIONS: A LOOK BEYOND

7th EDITION
ARDESIO 15 - 18 October 2026


The Vivi Ardesio Association, presents the 7th edition of SACRAE SCENAE, a film festival dedicated to popular devotions and traditions.

The Festival, founded with the aim of promoting the Sanctuary of Ardesio at the national level, has, year after year, become a unique cultural event in Italy. Through films it displays initiatives related to the world of popular devotions and traditions in all their forms and peculiarities, where the adjective "popular" refers to the values, beliefs, and attitudes that a people express as a form of devotion and identity.

FILM COMPETITION
ARDESIO FILM FESTIVAL - SACRAE SCENAE
7th EDITION
ARDESIO 15 - 18 October 2026


REGULATION

Art. 1 - The competition is open to films, documentaries or works with a subject, animated (hereinafter "works"), short, medium or feature films that have as their subject popular devotions and traditions, such as religious celebrations, customs and traditions in events dedicated to Saints, patronal festivals, stories of popular events linked to the sacred, miracles, pilgrimages, religious journeys and the various demonstrations of faith of all the religions of the world .

Art. 2 - Participation in the competition is free.

Art. 3 – Applications may be submitted by authors, directors, or producers, both Italian and foreign (hereinafter "participants"). Each participant may submit one or more works by submitting a separate application for each work.

Art. 4. – Applications must be submitted using the form attached to these regulations. Applications will be considered valid only if complete and accompanied by all required attachments. Applications and artwork must be received no later than May 31, 2026 , and submitted according to the procedures described on the form itself. Incomplete applications and/or late submissions will not be accepted and the artwork will not be eligible for the competition.

Art. 5 - The competition categories are as follows:
 ordinary section
 special mentions
 best film set in the Orobic Prealps area
 special award for directors under 30
 People's Jury Award

Art. 5 – The Festival organizer appoints the following competition bodies:
- Organizing Committee: to carry out the activities necessary for the creation and execution of the competition and festival;
- Artistic Direction: From all the competing works, select the “finalist” ones that will be screened during the festival;
- Popular Jury : selects the winner of the “Popular Jury Award”;
- Technical jury: selects the winners of all other categories and awards any special mentions.
The selection of winners and the awarding of any special mentions are at the sole discretion of the respective competent body.
Art. 6 – The competition prizes consist of awards and plaques. The awards will be presented in the presence of the applicant for the winning/mentioned work, or their representative, on the final day of the Festival.

Art. 7 – The organizing body will communicate via email :
- to all participants: the outcome of the selection of the finalist works that will be screened during the Festival evenings;
- to participants for the winning/mentioned works: information on the victory.

Art. 8 - No refunds of any kind will be provided for the screening of the finalist works during the Festival evenings.

Art. 9 - Participants authorize the publication of the information contained in the application on the websites of the participating organizing bodies and in communication materials. Furthermore, they authorize the screening and broadcast (TV, radio, online) of short excerpts from the competing works for promotional purposes.

Art. 10 - All competing works will become part of the Cineteca associated with the Sacrae Festival A stage whose purpose is the preservation of cinematographic heritage . The circulation of Cineteca works for commercial purposes is prohibited, with an absolute prohibition on video reproductions and on partial or total transfer to third parties.

Art. 11 - Participation in the competition implies full acceptance of these Regulations.

Art. 12 - For cases or disputes not covered by these Regulations, the organizing body shall have jurisdiction.