Riotous Documentary Hunky Jesus Premieres in Toronto
Hunky Jesus showcases how the Sisters subvert expectations and confront oppressive systems within religious and conservative circles – which the film unpacks in great detail.
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With its North American premiere slated for Sunday, May 24, Hunky Jesus is a documentary following the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as crowds gather in San Francisco for the group’s legendary Easter celebration, where participants compete with wildly original and often hilarious portrayals of Jesus in hopes of earning the coveted title of “Hunky Jesus.” The movie spotlights the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s integral work supporting San Francisco’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities through activism, education, fundraising, and performance for decades.
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A 25-foot 'Hunky Jesus'? Frameline's 50th festival returns to San Francisco with major premieres
Frameline has huge plans for its landmark 50th film festival, and there's no bigger example of that than a 25-foot tall Hunky Jesus.
Well, that's the height of the new screen at the restored Castro Theater , where Jennifer M. Kroot’s documentary “Hunky Jesus,” about the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and their rollicking annual Easter competition , will have its US premiere as the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival’s Pride Kickoff movie on June 26.
“[Kroot’s film is] an outrageous annual talent contest for the hunkiest Jesus-a-like, whose contestants are often oiled, with the kind of buttocks not mentioned in the New Testament.” – Peter Bradshaw, THE GUARDIAN”
“Kroot and her team roam the field, taking in the colour, noise and energy, and capturing a vibrant, infectious and notably diverse community spirit...Within this impressive group, individual stories and shared experiences strike a real chord.” -Nikki Baughan, SCREEN DAILY
“Placed beside several famous queer documentaries such as Paris is Burning (1990) and The Times of Harvey Milk (1984), this feature compares well. – John Kennedy, SCENE MAG
“In a time of uncertainty and anguish, Hunky Jesus is balm for the soul.” - Gavin Spoors, FILM HOUNDS
Kroot captures the event’s carnival atmosphere with affection, letting the pageantry unfold in all its feathered sequined chaos. Yes the film is careful not to reduce the Sisters to spectacle. What might sound like a joke from a distance is shown to be a cultural ritual with deep communal roots. - Edin Custo, EYE FOR FILM
World premiere of Hunky Jesus to open 40th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival
Jennifer Kroot’s riotous documentary tells the story of the wildly popular, annual Easter Sunday tradition in San Francisco known as Hunky Jesus.