The history, devotion, and symbolic power of the Ardia of Sedilo will travel overseas. The film "S'Ardia," dedicated to the sacred knights' race in honor of Saint Constantine held annually on July 6-7, will have its world premiere from September 17-20 at the Camden International Film Festival, a prestigious event in Maine dedicated entirely to documentary and nonfiction cinema. This is a high-profile recognition for a work that brings one of Sardinia's most distinctive traditions to the world. The film is directed by English director Billy Barraclough, who spent several months in Sedilo closely following the life of shepherd Leonardo Pes and his son Andrea, the film's protagonists. "It is a great honor to announce that my new film, S'Ardia , will have its world premiere at the Camden International Film Festival," says Barraclough. "Infinite thanks to Andrea and Leonardo Pes for opening the doors to their world to us. I will be forever grateful to their family and the community of Sedilo for their wonderful welcome." The documentary is set in 2025 and recounts the preparation of Leonardo Pes, who has been running the Ardia for over thirty years. He is about to receive the greatest honor: leading the race, a privilege granted only once in a lifetime. Breaking with tradition, he decides to share this moment with his son Andrea, forming the first father-son duo to lead the ritual together in its two-century history. The film follows the two protagonists in their daily lives: caring for the horses, herding, and the rhythms of the land. As the race approaches, Leonardo reflects on the responsibility of tradition and the beauty of fatherhood. "The intensity of the race and the devotion of the riders immediately struck me," says the director, Barraclough, "but what touched me most deeply was observing the bond between Leonardo and Andrea, a relationship built on teachings, shared work, and a passed-down identity. Filming with Andrea and Leonardo," concludes the director, "made me reflect on the reality of a son learning from his father, through work, ritual, and memory." For the entire Sedilese community and for the whole of Sardinia, this is an unprecedented international showcase with the sacred procession in honor of Santu Antinu, which will be a protagonist in the United States, bringing with it the strength of a tradition that continues to speak to the world.
cinema
The film "S'Ardia" will have its world premiere in the United States from September 17th to 20th.
The work dedicated to the sacred knights' race at the Camden International Film Festival
SERAFINO CORRIAS