Housed in a rural Italian monastery, a sect of martial arts champions have devoted the past two decades to their master and his religion. Each day the group undergoes relentless physical training to prepare for the coming apocalypse, pushing their minds and bodies to the limits. Their world is consumed by routine: prayer, exercise, group discussions, and dance. When this order is disrupted, the community struggles to process the threat to their reality. With stark black-and-white cinematography that creates a creeping sense of claustrophobia that soon permeates every frame, Faith poses questions around devotion, commitment, and how far you are willing to go for your beliefs.

UK Premiere

Screening includes a Q&A with director Valentina Pedicini, hosted by Chloe Trayner.

Please be advised this film contains scenes of emotional abuse which some viewers may find distressing.

In partnership with the Italian Cultural Institute.

Read an essay on Faith by Sanjana Varghese.

Available: Block 1 (Wed 9th Sept midday – Sat 12th Sept midnight BST)

Please note: this film is only available to view in the UK.

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Valentina Pedicini graduated with honours in Direction from the Zelig International School of Documentary Film. Her works during her school years, Pater Noster, Mio Sovversivo Amore and My Marlboro City were selected for many national and international festivals. In 2013 her documentary Dal Profondo won the Solinas Prize at the International Film Festival of Rome. In 2016 she shot her first fiction feature film: Dove Cadono Le Ombre, a Fandango and Rai Cinema production in Competition at the Venice Film Festival 2017, in the Venice Days section. Faith is her latest documentary.

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