Canadian Premiere
History, religion, and colonialism collide with spiritual awakening, miracles, and poverty in Portobelo, Panama, where locals worship a black Jesus Christ. Culminating in the rapturous yearly festival, his most devout followers share how they came to their faith.
Supported by
Community Partner
Canada/Panama
2022
In Spanish with English subtitles
Indigenous & Community Access
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Credits
Producer
Paul Stavropoulos, Brendan Mills
Cinematography
Paul Stavropoulos & Dean Gold
Editor
Paul Stavropoulos & Brendan Mills
Directors
Paul Stavropoulos
Paul is a Canadian director based in LA. His work focuses on challenging yet connective stories of love and light. He was a member of Werner Herzog’s 2018 Filmmaking Bootcamp. Paul was raised in Panama for most of his childhood.
Filmography: Sexual Being (2018); Cristo Negro (2023); De-Streamed (2023)
Brendan Mills
Brendan Mills is a Canadian director & editor whose work has been presented internationally at Venice Giornate degli Autori, Cannes Semaine de la Critique, SXSW, TIFF, NYFF, IFFR, Hot Docs, and more.
VIFF Short Forum
See more shorts in this series
Short Forum 1: The Scarier One
The return of scary: fear in all its chilling, suspenseful, and unsettling shades.
Short Forum 2: Anthropomaxx
Dogs, frogs, hogs, and more!
Short Forum 3: Workers of the World
The grind of the working class in a system that betrays its promises.
Short Forum 4: Immanence: A Life
You don’t have to look far; life is beautiful!
Short Forum 5: Somewhere Else
If space and time are pure perception, let’s build them differently.
Short Forum 6: Archive Lives!
Before anything becomes archival, it’s lived.
Short Forum 7: War at Home
Truly, no one is safe until everyone is safe.
Short Forum 8: Queer Magic
Do you believe in magic?
Short Forum 9: Big Time Sensuality
Explorations of desire and intimacy serve both pain and pleasure.
Short Forum 10: Are the Kids Alright?
The future kinda depends on it.