Sceneggiatura / Screenplay: Clementina Abba Legnazzi, Alessandro Abba Legnazzi, Giada Vincenzi. Fotografia / Photography: Clementina Abba Legnazzi, Alessandro Abba Legnazzi. Montaggio / Editing: Enrico Giovannone. Musica / Music: Federico Mao. Suono / Sound: Massimo Mariani. Interpreti / Cast: Clementina Abba Legnazzi, Alessandro Abba Legnazzi, Giada Vincenzi. Produzione / Produced by: Start. In associazione con / In association with: Little Bear. Con il sostegno di / Supported by: Film Commission Torino Piemonte, Piemonte Doc Film Fund.
Clementina is 10 years old and spends her summer with her father Alessandro in a country house filled with
memories. Her mother, Giada, has left, taking her backpack with her and leaving behind a void that no one
has been able to fill. To protect his daughter and himself, the father decides to turn this absence into a story,
creating a world where reality merges\ with imagination and where pain softens through play. In this invented
universe, Clementina becomes Leila, a brave aviator unafraid to push beyond boundaries. Her father
transforms into Tonio, her loyal mission companion. The country house becomes a fortress to defend, a
worn-out map reveals secret paths, and a mysterious enemy army rises as an obstacle to overcome. Their
mission is both clear and enchanting: to find the mother and bring her home.
“Leila is a sincere response to pain. A separation is like a tornado that sweeps away everything. Everyone
loses their reason, and everyone thinks they are right. There are no villains or heroes; everyone gets hurt.”
(A. Abba Legnazzi)
Alessandro Abba Legnazzi
Alessandro Abba Legnazzi, born in Brescia in 1981, is an Italian filmmaker, illustrator and teacher. Since
2008, he has been coordinating film workshops in primary and secondary schools, as well as youth centres.
His documentary Rada won the Best Documentary award at the Turin Film Festival in 2014. Leila, his latest
film, was presented in the “Panorama Italia” section at Alice nella Città 2025.
2012 Io ci sono (I am here) doc. 2014 Rada (Roadstead) doc.; Premi /Awards: Torino FF – Miglior documentario / Best Documentary; Krakow FF – Miglior fotografia / Best Cinematography; Genova FF – Miglior film / Best Film 2015 Storie di uomini e lupi (Of Wolves and Men) diretto con / directed with Andrea Deaglio doc. 2020 Eskere doc. 2022 L’Ors doc. 2025 Leila
