Washington, D.C., December 25, 2025
Photo: nypost.com
The Kennedy Center for the Perfoming Arts will premiere the Orthodox Christian film El Tonto Por Cristo (The Fool for Christ) on February 9, as part of its commitment to presenting art that connects audiences across faith traditions.
The black-and-white feature follows monks at a remote monastery on the Gulf Coast of Texas as they navigate doubt, brotherhood, and the spiritual life. Director Josh David Jordan’s film tells the story of Fr. John, an unlikely saint living as a holy fool who takes on the suffering of those who seek his comfort.
“It is a story of forgiveness, really, and striving to be better people in this world,” Jordan told the New York Post.
The screening comes as Orthodoxy is experiencing a convert boom in recent years, despite Orthodox Christians representing less than 1% of the US population.
Kennedy Center Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi said the film was chosen out of a commitment “to celebrating religious expression and presenting art that engages and connects audiences across faith traditions.”
The title translates from Spanish as “The Fool for Christ,” invoking the ancient Eastern Christian tradition of the holy fool—a saintly figure who disrupts the comfortable through humor and absurdity, portrayed memorably in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novels.
Jordan said the movie drew inspiration from “Texas southern culture” contrasted with monastic life, incorporating elements of noir thriller, horror, and comedy. The film completed production earlier this year after a successful crowdfunding campaign that raised over $65,000.
The premiere at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater will include a post-screening panel featuring Jordan and artist Jonathan Pageau, who served as executive producer.
“An aspect of the conversion that we’re seeing happen now is that a lot of the people that come are looking for beauty, are looking for a kind of deep experience,” Pageau said, “and Josh’s movie offers that for sure.”
Tickets are on sale on the Kennedy Center website.
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