Treviso, January 2011. After being selected in competition by Zagreb Film Festival, Sao Paulo International Film Festival and Festival dei Popoli in Florence, now I am Jesus has been selected in competition by the prestigious Rotterdam International Film Festival, in the Bright Future section, the platform for filmmakers of the future. Here, the festival presents the most important, idiosyncratic and adventurous new work by novice filmmakers from all over the world.

 

In many religions the concept of God appearing on earth in human form is a well discussed matter, and millions of believers expect the Messiah to come and save humanity.

But what if Jesus was already living amongst us? Would he be wearing a white robe, surrounded by light, preaching in the streets? Where would he be born and which language would he speak? Would he be a political leader? A TV presenter? Or simply the homeless guy in front of your local supermarket?

 

I Am Jesus explores the controversial subject of the return of the Messiah in three different geographic and cultural environments in today’s world: a farming commune in the desolate heathlands of Siberia, a group of rebellious squatters in England, and a pacific community that has become a YouTube phenomenon in Brazil. They revolve around three different figures, who have just one thing in common: they all claim to be Jesus.

The documentary has been entirely produced by Fabrica, Benetton’s Media and Communication Research Centre, a place of experimentation, dialogue and cultural growth focusing on the free expression of every art form. Fabrica decided to support two young residents, the Austrian Valerie Gudenus and the Brazilian Heloisa Sartorato, who, after in-depth research, left for Brazil, England and Siberia to follow these religious leaders and the daily life of their followers, trying to find out the reasons why they decide to leave behind their family bonds, their homes and comforts to devote their lives to one person and what that person claims to be.

 

The creative director of the project is Babak Payami, producer and Iranian-Canadian director, winner of the 2001 Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival with the film Secret Ballot.

 

As declared by the two young directors, “In I Am Jesus we wanted to find out what these religious leaders are trying to accomplish and why there seems to be an everlasting need for someone that people can follow and believe in”.

 

Fabrica is a place of experimentation and innovation, born in 1994 with the aim of combining culture with industry. Fabrica invites young artists/designers to its centre, offering them a one-year study grant and providing them with a professional training opportunity and a wealth of resources and relations, to develop cultural and social communication projects in the areas of design, visual communication, photography, interaction, video, music and publishing, under the guidance of experts.

 

Screenings:

Jan 31^st at 6.45pm      Pathe 5

Feb 1^st at 9.30am       Lantarenvenster 1

Feb 2^nd at 11.30          Cinerama 2 (Press and Industry screening)

Feb 3^rd at 2.15pm       Cinerama 1

 

Valerie Gudenus (co-director) and Pablo Pastor (editor) will attend the screenings and will be available for interviews.

 

 

For further information:       

Loredana Rigato

Fabrica Press Office: +39 0422 516340