Where There Is Darkness
Having devoted his life to helping the less fortunate, Fr. Rene Robert was regarded as a "living saint" in the tight-knit community of St. Augustine, Florida.
But when Fr. Rene began helping ex-convicts get their lives together after prison, the people closest to him worried that he was putting his life at risk—especially the local sheriff, David Shoar, one of Fr. Rene’s longtime friends.
So, in April, 2016, when Fr. Rene failed to show up at a church service, Sheriff Shoar immediately put his best detectives on the case and local residents joined in searching for the beloved priest. It quickly became apparent, however, that Fr. Rene was not just missing—someone had taken him against his will.
True crime documentary WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS follows the nationwide search for Fr. Rene, which resulted in a series of shocking revelations and the discovery of a 20-year-old letter in which Fr. Rene seemed to foretell his own fate.
*A shorter version of the film (1:30:00) is also available for festival screening.
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Sean BloomfieldDirectorApparition Hill
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Cimela KidonakisDirector
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Sean BloomfieldWriterApparition Hill, The Sound of Many Waters
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Cimela KidonakisProducerApparition Hill
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Jessi HannapelProducerApparition Hill
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Sean BloomfieldProducerApparition Hill
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Dick McMahonKey Cast"Fr. Rene Robert"
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Eric NewcombeKey Cast"Steven Murray"
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James BloomfieldKey Cast"Steven Murray (child)"
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Project Type:Documentary
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Runtime:1 hour 43 minutes
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Completion Date:October 1, 2018
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Production Budget:140,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital, RED
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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California Film AwardsSan Diego, California
United States
January 5, 2019
Diamond Award - Best Feature Documentary -
Aphrodite Film AwardsNew York City, NY State
United States
January 4, 2019
Best Director Documentary Feature -
International Independent Film Awards - Winter SessionEncino, California
United States
December 29, 2018
Gold Award - Best Documentary Feature -
Prague Film AwardsPrague
Czech Republic
January 11, 2019
Czech Republic Premiere
Best Feature Documentary -
Prison City Film FestivalHuntsville, Texas
United States
February 27, 2019
Best Documentary Feature -
Queen Palm International Film FestivalPalm Springs, California
United States
December 8, 2018
Best Feature Silver Winner, Best Director Silver Winner, Best Producer Bronze Winner -
Spotlight Documentary Film AwardsAtlanta, Georgia
United States
January 7, 2019
Silver Winner - Best Documentary Feature -
Oniros Film FestivalAosta
Italy
November 30, 2018
Italian Premiere
Finalist - Best Documentary Feature -
George Lindsey UNA Film FestivalFlorence, Alabama
United States
February 28, 2019
Finalist - Professional Documentary -
Los Angeles Independent Film Festival AwardsLos Angeles, California
United States
August 24, 2019
Finalist - Best Feature Documentary -
Back in The Box CompetitionToluca Lake, California
United States
December 15, 2018
Finalist - Best Feature Film -
Hollywood International Independent Documentary AwardsLos Angeles, California
United States
March 23, 2019
Semi-Finalist - Best Feature Documentary, Best Director -
Near Nazareth FestivalAfula
Israel
December 2, 2018
Semi-Finalist - Best Documentary -
Los Angeles CineFestLos Angeles, California
United States
January 26, 2019
Semi-Finalist - Best Documentary Feature -
L-DUB Film FestivalLake Worth, Florida
United States
March 28, 2019
Official Selection -
Snowdance Independent Film FestivalLandsberg am Lech
Germany
January 26, 2019
German Premiere
Official Selection -
Miami Independent Film FestivalMiami Beach, Florida
United States
December 30, 2018
Nominated - Best Documentary Feature -
The Impact DOCS AwardsLa Jolla, California
United States
January 29, 2019
Official Selection -
Central Michigan International Film FestivalMount Pleasant, Michigan
United States
February 13, 2019
Official Selection -
Dumbo Film FestivalNew York City, NY State
United States
February 8, 2019
Official Selection -
6th International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra AwardsIerapetra, Crete
Greece
August 3, 2019
Greece Premiere
Official Selection -
Fort Myers Film FestivalFort Myers, Florida
United States
April 1, 2019
Official Selection -
BAFF FLORIDA Filmmakers and Screenwriters ShowcaseMiami, Florida
United States
March 2, 2019
Official Selection -
Philadelphia Independent Film AwardsPhiledelphia, Pennsylvania
United States
May 16, 2019
Official Selection -
James Bond III Film FestivalCalera, Alabama
United States
December 7, 2018
Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Lead Actor, Best Soundtrack -
London International Film FestivalLondon
United Kingdom
March 16, 2019
United Kingdom Premiere
Official Selection -
Ocean City Film FestivalOcean City, Maryland
United States
March 8, 2019
Official Selection -
Docs Without Borders Film FestivalNassau, Delaware
United States
June 16, 2019
Official Selection -
16. Internacional Festival Signos de la NoiteParis
France
January 4, 2019
Official Selection -
The Louisiana International Film FestivalBaton Rouge, Louisiana
United States
April 4, 2019
Official Selection -
17. Internationales Festival Zeichen der NachtParis
France
January 18, 2019
Official Selection -
Magnolia Independent Film FestivalStarkville, Mississippi
United States
February 28, 2019
Best Documentary, Best Director -
Milledgeville Eatonton Film FestivalMilledgeville, Georgia
United States
April 23, 2019
Best Documentary, Best Director -
Australian Inspirational Film FestivalWanneroo, Perth
Australia
March 22, 2019
Official Selection -
Maryland International Film FestivalHagerstown, Maryland
United States
March 29, 2019
Official Selection -
Hollywood Florida Film FestivalHollywood
United States
June 4, 2019
Best Documentary -
Colorado International Activism Film FestivalDenver, Colorado
United States
July 28, 2019
Finalist -
European Cinematography AwardsAmsterdam
Netherlands
March 28, 2019
Best Documentary Cinematography -
New Hope Film FestivalNew Hope, Pennsylvania
United States
July 19, 2019
Official Selection -
Sands Film FestivalJacksonville Beach, Florida
United States
April 13, 2019
Audience Award - Best Feature Film -
Black Cat Picture ShowAugusta, Georgia
United States
August 16, 2019
Official Selection -
SBE's Annual Hamilton International Film FestivalHamilton, New York
United States
June 24, 2019
Official Selection -
AFIN International Film FestivalBrisbane, Queensland
Australia
October 7, 2019
Official Selection -
The IFAP AwardsPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
United States
May 16, 2019
Official Selection -
Fort Myers Film FestivalFort Myers, Flordia
United States
April 1, 2019
Official Selection -
Vero Beach Wine and Film FestivalVero Beach, Florida
United States
June 6, 2019
Official Selection -
Central Florida Film FestivalTavares, Flordia
United States
September 6, 2019
Official Selection -
South Texas International Film FestivalEdinburg, Texas
United States
September 4, 2019
Official Selection -
Catalina Film FestivalLos Angeles, California
United States
September 25, 2019
Official Selection -
Royal Starr Film FestivalRoyal Oak, Michigan
United States
September 6, 2019 -
Saints and Sinners Film FestivalOrlando, Film Festival
United States
May 17, 2019
Official Selection -
Ellensburg Film FestivalEllensburg, Washington
United States
October 4, 2019
Official Selection -
Women Texas Film FestivalDallas, Texas
United States
August 15, 2019
Official Selection -
STIFF Seattle Transmedia & Independent Film FestivalSeattle, Washington
United States
July 25, 2019
Official Selection -
Indie Memphis Film FestivalMemphis, Tennessee
United States
October 30, 2019
Official Selection -
Four Corners Film FestivalFarmington, New Mexico
United States
September 10, 2019
Official Selection -
(In)Justice For All Film FestivalChicago, Illinois
United States
October 3, 2019
Official Selection -
Full Bloom Film FestivalStatesville, California
United States
September 19, 2019
Official Selection -
Rendezvous Film FestivalYulee, Florida
United States
September 26, 2019
Official Selection -
Sanford International Film FestivalSanford, Maine
United States
October 16, 2019
Official Selection -
Awareness FestivalLos Angeles, California
United States
October 3, 2019
Official Selection -
Emerge Film FestivalLewiston, Maine
United States
October 3, 2019
Official Selection -
Burbank International Film FestivalBurbank, California
United States
September 4, 2019
Semi-Finalist -
Social World Film FestivalNapoli
Italy
July 28, 2019
Semi-Finalist -
Festpro Film FestivalMoscow
Russian Federation
May 13, 2019
Semi-Finalist -
Great Lakes Film FestivalErie, Pennsylvania
United States
Official Selection