You are using an unsupported browser, so some features may not work. Please upgrade to a modern browser
Ihr Webbrowser ist veraltet und wird leider nicht in vollem Umfang unterstützt.

A Black Jesus

DE 2020, 92 min, Luca Lucchesi

In Siculiana, a small Sicilian town in the province of Agrigento, the statue of a black Jesus has been venerated for centuries. On May 3rd, the crucifix is carried on the shoulders of chosen devotees in procession through the crowded streets of the town. On this occasion, hundreds of Siculianesi emigrants return from every part of Italy and abroad to pay homage to their patron saint.

In 2014, Villa Sikania, a hotel on the verge of bankruptcy, was converted by the owners into a reception centre for asylum seekers. At the height of the migrant crisis the centre hosted up to 1000 guests – a third of the local population. However, few Siculianesi have ever exchanged a single word with them.

The Siculianesi, who have always been a population of emigrants, have to deal with an exodus of young people and therefore with the lack of a workforce. One possible answer to the town's problems could be the young migrants present at Villa Sikania: their willingness to undertake any honest work could revive the fate of Siculiana. But their status as asylum seekers makes it impossible for them to make short or long-term plans or to obtain employment contracts. Siculianesi and migrants remain divided, not speaking with each other out of fear, but also because the Italian government has not attempted to create a fruitful dialogue between these two different faces of poverty.

The drowsy stagnancy of Siculiana is stirred up by the arrival of Edward, a 19-year old migrant from Ghana. He is immediately fascinated by the figure of the black Jesus, who he discovers for the first time during the 2018 procession. Edward decides to challenge the indifference of the Siculianesi. He asks them for the greatest honour: to participate, together with his friends Peter and Samuel, as bearers of the black Jesus statue during the celebrations of May 3rd.

Dialogue and understanding finally seem possible. But how much power do individuals and communities really have, within a system designed to divide rather than unite?

The result of two years of immersive research within the community of Siculiana, A BLACK JESUS is a modern parable about the fragile path towards equality and brotherhood among all human beings.

 

festivals

UNAFF 2020, US | DOK Leipzig 2020, DE | This Human World FF 2020, AT | Efebo D'Oro 2020, IT | MIFF Awards 2020, IT | Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis 2021, DE | Bolzano Film Festival 2021, IT | Visions du Réel 2021, CH | Hot Docs 2021, CA | CPH:DOX 2021, DK | San Sebastian Human Rights FF 2021, ES | Doku Bazaar 2021, SI | Festival of Tolerance 2021, HR | Sole Luna Doc 2021, IT | Beyond Borders Int. Documentary Festival 2021, GR | Astra Film Festival 2021, RO | Docs Against Gravity 2021, PL | Festival Internazionale Cinema Di Frontiera 2021, IT | Doclisboa 2021, PT | Swidnica Film Festival 2021, PL | Sydney Film Festival 2021, AU | Calgary Justice Film Festival 2021, CA | Tenemos Que Ver 2021, UY | PriMed 2021, FR | Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival 2022, US | Foça International Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Documentary Film Days 2022, TR

awards

Premio Speciale Centro Ricerca Narrative e Cinema (Efebo D'Oro 2020) | Best Sound design and High school student ward - Best doc (Sole Luna Doc 2021) | Special Jury Prize (Beyond Borders Int. Documentary Festival 2021) | Audience Award (Swidnica Film Festival 2021) | Broadcasting Award RAI (PriMed 2021, FR)
 

pictures

download

Presskit

QUEERFILMNACHT

Demnächst im Kino

OKTOBER 2025 

SKINNY LOVE

ein Film von Sigurður Anton Friðþjófsson

Island 2024, 92 Minuten, OF mit dt. UT

FSK 16

Mi, 8.10., 20:40 KIZ Royal Kino
Mo 20.10., 20.00 Votivkino, Wien
Do 8.10., 20.10 Volkskino Klagenfurt
Mo 27.10., 20:30 Cinematograph

 

read more

NEWS

JETZT IM KINO:

NARBEN EINES PUTSCHES 

ein Film von Nathalie Borgers 
Jetzt im ADMIRALKINO 

 

JETZT im Kino:
BLUM - Gospodari svoje buducnosti

Ein Film von Jasmila Žbanic
 

Wien: VILLAGE CINEMA, MILLENIUMCITY 
ab 24.10. auch im TOPKINO 
5.11., 20.00 Film + Talk im ADMIRALKINO 
Graz: KIZ Royal Kino
Linz: Moviemento 
Innsbruck: Leokino 
Klagenfurt: Volkskino 

ORT OHNE ERINNERUNG. KAISERSTEINBRUCH, die verschwundene Geschichte

Ein Film von Reinhard Tötschinger 

ab 20. November im KINO!

DEAR BEAUTIFUL BELOVED

EDIMOTION, DE 2025 
Nominierung: 
BESTE MONTAGE - ANDREA WAGNER
für ihre herausragende Arbeit an
DEAR BEAUTIFUL BELOVED 
 

GemeindeKINOs schaffen KINOgemeinden

Erlebt echte Kinomomente bei euch im Ort!
Eine Vielzahl ausgewählter Filme findet Ihr auf  

www.gemeindekino.at oder
www.facebook.com/GemeindeKINO
 

ALARM jetzt STREAMEN

Kino Vod Club, Watch AUT
 

read more

FESTIVALS

BLUM Masters of their own destiny

BiH´s entry for the 98th ACADEMY AWARDS
in the category: BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM 

OPEN

A film by  Diana Fabianova

National Premiere:

23 Oct One World FilmFestival Slovakia 

International Premiere: 

31 Oct Jihlava Int. Film Festival / Open Bonus Competition

MIRELLA

a film by Oliver Bruck 
World-Premiere 

22 October, HOFER FILMTAGE 

BLUE - A Black European Tale (Austroschwarz)

a film by Mwita Mataro and Helmut Karner

International Premiere

28 Oct DOK Leipzig, Young Eyes Competition 

VIENNALE 2025

World Premieres: 

ELEMENT OF(F) BALANCE 
Fr 17. Oktober 17.30 Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus 
Mo 27.10., 14.00 Filmmuseum 

LOIS WEINBERGER - RUDERAL SOCIENTY 
Sa 18.10., 16.30 Metro Kinokulturhaus 
Di 28.10. 14.45 Metro Kinokulturhaus 

DEAR BEAUTIFUL BELOVED

A film by Juri Rechinsky 

26 Oct DOX Mexico 

WHERE YOU MEET US IN PERSON

October: Dok Leipzig

November: IDFA 

read more