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

DEZEMBER 2025

„Ein Film der Hoffnung und der Humanität. Genau diese Geschichte braucht unsere Welt jetzt.“ (Loud and Clear Reviews)

DREAMERS 

ein Film von Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor
UK 2025, 78 Minuten, IF mit dt. UT, FSK ab 12

Mi, 10.12., 20.40, KIZ Royal Kino, Graz
Mo 15.12., 20.00, Votivkino Wien

Do 18.12., 20.10, Volkskino Klagenfurt
Do 18.12., 20.30 Cinema-Paradiso Baden
Do 25.12., 20.30 Cinematograph Innsbruck

read more

NEWS

JETZT IM KINO:

BLUM - Gospodari svoje buducnosti

Ein Film von Jasmila Žbanic
BOSNISCHER OSCAR-BEITRAG 2026 "Best Feature Film" 

DAS KINO, Salzburg 13.1.2026 Film + Talk 

JETZT AUCH IN DEUTSCHLAND IM KINO 

Hamburg: Studio Kino 27.11.-1.12.
weitere Kino folgen 

 

ORT OHNE ERINNERUNG. KAISERSTEINBRUCH, die verschwundene Geschichte

Ein Film von Reinhard Tötschinger 

Jetzt im KINO!

täglich im Metro Kinokulturhaus Wien bis 3.12. 

Sonderveranstaltung Film+Lesung+ Gespräch Mo 1.12., 20.00 
Metro Kinokulturhaus 

Innsbruck-Premiere am Fr 28.11., 20.00 Leokino 
In Anwesenheit des Regisseurs und Protagonistin 

Graz-Premiere am Mi 3.12., 18.00 KIZ Royal Kino 
Gespräch mit Reinhard Tötschinger nach dem Film, Moderation: Harry Prinz  

Linz-Premiere am Fr 5.12. Moviemento 
Gespräch mit Reinhard Tötschinger nach dem Film, Moderation: Michael John (Kulturwissenschaftler und Historiker) 

Tickets in den jeweiligen Kinos erhältlich!

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 

RENATE

Österreich Premiere: 

KITZBÜHEL FILM FESTIVAL 
28.11., 17.00
In Anwesenheit von Martin Nguyen und Renate Welsh 

THIS HUMAN WORLD 
5.12., 19.00 Topkino, Wien 

WHERE YOU MEET US IN PERSON

14-18 November: IDFA 

Our films at DOCS for SALE: 

BLUM - Masters of their own destiny 
directed by Jasmila Zbanic 
Bosnian OSCAR entry "Best Int. Feature Film" 2026 

OPEN
directed by Diana Fabianova
One World Film Festival 2025, SK I Ji.hlava Film Festival 2025 (Opus Bonus Competition), CZ 

read more