La Sfida Invisibile

A mountain race can begin long before the starting line. For Manlio Faccini, returning to the Tor des Géants grows out of a project connecting a sporting goal with the memory of his uncle, who died of leukaemia and shared his name. La Sfida Invisibile, a 36-minute Italian documentary directed and written by Alessandro Ceccarelli and Matteo Fortunati, follows this personal journey and the accompanying fundraising initiative for AIL Forlì-Cesena.

The challenge takes place in the Aosta Valley. The organisers describe the Tor des Géants as a 330-kilometre endurance trail with 24,000 metres of elevation gain, starting and finishing in Courmayeur. There are no compulsory stages: each athlete must manage their own stops, sleep and time at aid stations. In the film, Manlio aims to complete the route within one hundred hours. Managing time and energy therefore becomes part of his preparation.

Alongside the running, the documentary follows the people who make it possible. His mother Lavinia, father Raffaele and sisters Arianna and Emma describe Manlio’s relationship with the sport and accompany him through the experience. Alessandro Ceccarelli also helped initiate the charitable project. Interviews and moments of assistance introduce a network of relatives and friends, while trails, ridgelines and night-time stretches mark the runner’s journey.

The everyday demands of ultra trail running enter the documentary through aid stations, food and the need to rest. Alongside the distance still to cover, it makes room for the gestures of those waiting and providing help. The title refers to difficulties that many people face daily but that are not immediately visible: the film’s presentation identifies this connection between the runner’s effort and the cause supported by the project.

Faccini is also credited as producer. Carlo Alberto Biasioli and Matteo Fortunati edited the documentary, with further credits including Giorgia Fortunati for graphic design and Alisa Lutchenkova for photography. Completed in March 2026 and filmed in Italian, La Sfida Invisibile brings a story of family memory and collective involvement into sports documentary, following the athlete’s preparation and attempt together with the people at his side.