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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.

 

Watch online.

 

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

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Presskit

QUEERFILMNACHT

JUNI 2026

Donkey Days

eine schwarze Komödie von Rosanne Pel

Nl/De 2025, 108 Minuten OmU

Wien: Votiv Kino Mo., 08.06, 20:00

Graz: KIZ RoyalKino Mi., 10.06, 20:40

Innsbruck: Leokino Di., 30.06, 20:30

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NEWS

JETZT im KINO: 

 

DIE KUNSTKOMPLIZEN 

Ein Film von Ebba Sinzinger 

 Sonderveranstaltungen
 in Anwesenheit von Ebba Sinzinger und Brigitte PRINZGAU

 Di 2.6., 18.00 KIZ Royalkino in Koop. mit Kultum 

Jetzt in folgenden Kinos: 
Wien: Admiralkino und Actors Studio 
Linz: Moviemento 
Graz: KIZ Royal Kino 
Innsbruck: Leokino
Klagenfurt: Volkskino (2.-4. Juni) 

BLUM – Masters of their own destiny

ein Film von Jasmila Žbanic

im Urania Ceenema am 

08.06 um 18:00

18.06 um 18:00

MIT ÄSTEN BIS ZUM HIMMEL 

Ein Film von Katharina Copony 

Preview: 29.6., 21.15 KINO AM DACH 
Kinostart 11. September 2026 

 

OPEN AIR Kinos 2026: 

29.06 MIT ÄSTEN BIS ZUM HIMMEL, Kino am Dach

15.07, 21:00 PORTRAIT OF NOWNESS, Volxkino Karlsplatz 

22.07 BRUNAUPARK, Volxkino 1090

31.07 DIE KUNSTKOMPLIZENVolxkino Laurentiusplatz 1140

29.07 BRUNAUPARK Architekur.Film.Sommer MQ

21.08 NARBEN EINES PUTSCHES, Volxkino Yppenmarkt 1160

 

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
 

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FESTIVALS

SIRI HUSTVEDT Dance Around the Self

A film by Sabine Lidl 

3rd and 5th June: KRAKOW FILM FESTIVAL, PL
 

NOMINATED FOR THE GERMAN FILM AWARDS 2026 

in the Categories: Best Documentary
Best Editing

 

ELEMENTS OF(F) BALANCE

A film by Othmar Schmiderer 

4th and 7th June, Swiss Premiere @ Bergwelten Filmfestival Stans
6th June, Italian Premiere @ Biografilm Festival 
7th June @CinemAmbiente, Environmental FF, Italy 

DESERT PASSAGES

A film by  Kevin Brennan, Laurence Durkin

3rd - 7th June, Italian Premiere @CinemAmbiente Environmental FF

BLUM Masters of their own destiny

1st and 3rd June Polish Premiere KRAKOW FILM FESTIVAL 

MIRELLA

a film by Oliver Bruck 

5th - 7th June UK Premiere @ Kingston Film Festival 

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