SI Fest Kids – Hic Sunt Leones

SI Fest Kids, photography told to the younger generation

In the heart of Romagna, in Savignano sul Rubicone, in the Province of Forlì-Cesena, SI Fest Kids comes to life, the first Italian festival of photography and photo-illustration entirely designed for children and teenagers. The first edition is held from September 25th to 27th, 2026, with a calendar of activities that continues until October 11th, and brings a new perspective to the city on a language – that of images – increasingly central in the lives of the younger generation.

"Hic Sunt Leones": beyond known borders

The theme chosen for the debut is "Hic Sunt Leones", the ancient warning, between the fantastic and the menacing, that appeared beyond the known borders of ancient maps. It is the evocation of the unknown and the unexpected, of a territory yet to be explored: that of photography and photo-illustration for childhood and adolescence. An invitation to look at the world with curiosity and not to be afraid to venture where "there are lions".

A project born in Savignano, capital of photography

SI Fest Kids is born in the city that has hosted the SI Fest – Savignano Immagini Festival for over thirty years, one of the longest-running and most authoritative photography events in Italy. From this consolidated tradition, a branch dedicated to new generations now sprouts, designed to introduce children and teenagers to the art of visual storytelling. The artistic direction is entrusted to Giorgio Arcari, editorial director of Sabir Editore, who signs the project together with the municipal administration.

Exhibitions, workshops, and meetings

The program combines exhibitions, workshops for children and teenagers, meetings, guided tours, and moments of training for teachers and educators. Among the authors and guests involved are Marianna Balducci, Roberto Grassilli, and Massimiliano Tappari, along with industry experts such as the French researcher Laurence Le Guen, the journalist Mara Pace, Barbara Schiaffino, director of Andersen magazine, and Milena Tancredi, head of the Children's Library and director of the Buck Festival.

A festival supported by the Ministry of Culture

The initiative is promoted by Sabir Editore on behalf of the Municipality of Savignano sul Rubicone and enjoys the support of Strategia Fotografia 2025, a program promoted by the Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity of the Ministry of Culture. A recognition that places this new event in Emilia-Romagna among the most innovative projects in the national cultural landscape dedicated to images.