Showtimes

Between Cuts, Chrome, and St. Peter's Basilica

Directed by Svea Celine Wenderoth

Germany ∙ 34 MIN ∙ Documentary ∙ 2026 ∙ German (English subtitles) ∙ International Premiere

A customized motorcycle, a ride from Bavaria to Rome, and one slightly improbable goal: get the bike in front of Pope Leo XIV, have him sign it, then auction it for charity.

The Jesus Bikers set out under the motto “Pray – Ride – Do Good,” but between bad weather, long days in the saddle and the small matter of getting a group of leather-clad motorcyclists past the Swiss Guard, it's quite the undertaking.

Along the way, the film opens up the wonderfully unconventional world of the riders themselves. Whether it’s an accident, a prison sentence, or a llama aptitude test, sometimes it gets deep, sometimes it
gets quirky.

About the Director

Svea Celine Wenderoth makes documentaries about subcultures, faith, and the strange, compelling ways people find community. She cut her teeth in investigative journalism at the Institute for Journalism in Dortmund, spending years on the ground producing raw, fast-paced reports for the public network format reporter (funk / ARD & ZDF). That experience built her signature approach: relentless curiosity, sharp visual pacing, and zero judgment. Whether she’s riding along with leather-clad Christian bikers on a high-octane pilgrimage to the Vatican or embedding in niche youth movements, she’s drawn to unvarnished, human-first stories.

Credits

Directed by

Svea Celine Wenderoth

Written by

Svea Celine Wenderoth

Produced by

Moritz Steegmaier

Cast

Cinematography

Roman Haenicke, Moritz Steegmaier, Jana Lilly Hoste

Editing

Colour