Hunky Jesus documentary secures international sales deal ahead of MIPCOM
Canamedia has acquired global sales rights to Hunky Jesus, a documentary about San Francisco's LGBTQ+ celebration produced by Tigerlily Pictures.
A documentary exploring San Francisco's Hunky Jesus celebration has secured an international sales deal, opening the door for the film to reach audiences beyond the United States.
Canadian distributor Canamedia has acquired global sales rights to Hunky Jesus, a feature documentary produced by Tigerlily Pictures and directed by Jennifer M. Kroot. The deal was reported by Broadcast on 12 October 2026, with the documentary being introduced to international buyers at MIPCOM.
The film explores the history and cultural significance of the annual Easter Sunday event, which has become a distinctive part of San Francisco's LGBTQ+ community and its tradition of activism, performance and public celebration.
What is Hunky Jesus?
The Hunky Jesus celebration is hosted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a queer and trans order of activist nuns known for combining performance, protest and charitable work.
The event brings together elaborate costumes, humour and community participation, using drag-inspired performance and religious parody to challenge convention and raise awareness of social issues. It has taken place over more than four decades and attracts a substantial audience.
According to Broadcast, the event draws more than 10,000 people. The documentary goes behind the scenes of the celebration, exploring its history and the people who have helped shape it.
Who is involved in the documentary?
The film is directed by Jennifer M. Kroot and hosted by Sister Roma, one of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, alongside Honey Mahogany, who is known for appearing on RuPaul's Drag Race.
Their involvement connects the documentary to both the event's community roots and the wider world of LGBTQ+ performance. The film's subject also offers an opportunity to explore how a local celebration can become an important cultural gathering with a history extending across generations.
The international sales agreement does not, by itself, confirm a release date or broadcast platform in each territory. Canamedia's role is to sell the film to international buyers, with distribution arrangements dependent on the deals secured.
Watch the trailer:
Why the documentary matters
LGBTQ+ documentaries can preserve stories that are often overlooked in mainstream accounts of cultural history. By documenting the Hunky Jesus celebration, the film explores how performance, humour and community activism have helped shape a distinctive public tradition.
The subject also demonstrates how LGBTQ+ events can combine entertainment with a broader social purpose. For the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, performance is connected to activism and charitable work, making the celebration more than a conventional festival or stage show.
The international sales deal marks a new stage for the documentary as it is presented to potential buyers. Its eventual reach will depend on the distribution agreements that follow, but the deal creates an opportunity for audiences outside San Francisco to discover the event and the community behind it.
