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Kevin Contento

@askeda

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The Moths & The Flame @berlinaleforum @berlinale @idfafestival 2026

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A qué nos dedicamos es nuestra huella, y cómo la polilla bailando en el fuego, es solo ella que entiende.

My sophomore feature is having its World Premiere at the @berlinaleforum next month during the 76th @berlinale .

“The Moths & The Flame” explores fatherhood in Pahokee, Florida by combining a Sufi parable with back-lit vignettes & an original score by the 4th Disciple (@sonicministry @realdisciple ). 🤲

My love to Jean, Malik, Boleg, TJ, Willy, Troy and everyone else that allowed me, Claribel, and our crew into their homes. I’m in awe of you and the way you make the everyday special for you and yours. @j1.goat @fw.tjayy @lihabho

A huge shoutout to our EP’s Breven, Ale, & Tim for helping me carry what I called a film to the finish line. Y’all were never obstacles or gate keepers, you were ready to hear me out and find a solution. Even when I had given up. Thank you! @alemarie132

To our Cinematographer, Claribel Tejeda, who was there back in 2017 for the genesis. There would be no visuals, literally, and no soul to what is on the screen. You care about the people in front of the camera and it’s the reason we could capture poetry. @almostbarbaric

To the homie @edleefla5 , thank you, fam. See you at the cabin.

@dan_abrusci un capó eres, un caballero eres, te agradezco por siempre estar disponible a compartir tiempo conmigo y la familia. Abrazos amigo.

@helencontento tú y yo somos polillas bailando como locos en el enciendo de criar dos niñas. Aunque la piel nos arde, no lo cambiaré por nada. A Dios le pido que este año cosas se mejoran. Te los mereces todo.

@kevin.ondarza thank you for supporting me with tripods and random gear and then blessing us with your camera work! You came through and I can’t forget that. It’s one of my favorite moments.

@yo.shells you designed the wickedest title, and that is really the cherry on top that I needed. Mad blessings and thanks fam!

🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🙏🙏🙏🙏 taken in Berlin, Germany by @askeda

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9 months ago

A year in Pahokee, with the men Kevin Contento has known since they were kids, now becoming fathers alongside him. No drama, no narration telling you what to feel, just kitchens, laundromats, birthdays, and the quiet work of showing up. Shot in golden light that makes the sugar cane fields feel like something sacred.

This is Palm Beach County, told by someone who actually knows it. World Premiere at the Berlinale Forum.

Screening on Sun. Nov 8 @afflucstudios at 1pm.

Link in bio for tix. taken in Afflux Studios by @askeda

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9 days ago

“I just want my kids to be,
I want my kids to be better.
I want my kids to go farther than I ever went.
Feel me?
I want my kids to be,
on top of everything.”

- Wiltavious

Dutch premiere set for @idfafestival in the “BEST OF FEST”.
Screening dates coming soon. taken in Pahokee, Florida by @askeda

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10 days ago

“The Moths & the Flame” had its World Premiere @berlinaleforum. Now it’s Dutch Premiere is set @idfafestival in the “Best of Fest” program.

“This intimate film by Kevin Contento shows Black fathers picking up their kids from school, doing the grocery shopping, sweeping and mopping the floor, organizing children’s parties, and doing the laundry. Over the course of a year, the filmmaker, just recently a parent himself, turned his camera on the fathers in his circle of friends in the small city of Pahokee, Florida.

In portraying these men engaged in everyday activities with their children, Contento dispels the stereotype of the absent Black father. Along the way, we also hear about their dreams, feelings, and thoughts. Their interactions convey a sense of responsibility and solidarity, as well as a view of their less than ideal society that is both realistic and hopeful.

A recurring motif is the poetic parable “The Moths and the Flame” by Sufi writer Farid ud-Din Attar, which expresses the idea that you cannot know a situation until you are in the middle of it yourself. The lovingly filmed scenes of Pahokee and its rural surroundings likewise have a poetic quality, as does the accompanying music by hip-hop producer 4th Disciple.” 🌈 taken in Pahokee, Florida by @askeda

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18 days ago

“The Moths & the Flame” is in the “Best of Fest” section @idfafestival 2026. Come November we are screening at the world’s largest film festival dedicated to nonfiction storytelling. Thank you for highlighting Pahokee fathers! Their dreams & voices inspired this project and it’s an honor to share it with audiences in Amsterdam. We mixed Florida visuals, metaphysical music & knowledge to depict the metamorphosis that is fatherhood. Peace & love ❤️ taken in Amsterdam, Netherlands by @askeda

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19 days ago

“The Moths & the Flame” is in the “Best of Fest” section @idfafestival 2026. Come November we are screening at the world’s largest film festival dedicated to nonfiction storytelling. Thank you for highlighting Pahokee fathers! Their dreams & voices inspired this project and it’s an honor to share it with audiences in Amsterdam. We mixed Florida visuals, metaphysical music & knowledge to depict the metamorphosis that is fatherhood. Peace & love ❤️ taken in Amsterdam, Netherlands by @askeda

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19 days ago

For 18 hours I was back. Thank you Hilary for letting me teach a masterclass @columbiaschoolofthearts @columbiafilm and for screening my latest doc in the room where I first started to take this whole thing more serious. Campus has changed in several ways but good folks are still plentiful. Don’t know if it’s a full circle moment but it was close to it. ❤️ taken in Columbia University by @askeda

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a month ago

“The Moths & the Flame” will be playing @subtropicff in November! So excited to bring this so close to Pahokee for a chance to share with friends and family.
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Check us out on Day 3 @ 1pm @affluxstudios.
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Thx u @transom.pitcher @noeliasolange @noahsalz_ and everyone else involved for this opportunity!
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This film is all about the amazing father figures that call Pahokee home. Jean, Malik, TJ, Boleg you guys are an inspiration and sharing your stories and dreams are what matters!
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Come thru and support ! taken in West Palm Beach, Florida by @askeda

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a month ago

“The Moths & The Flame exemplifies Contento’s distinctive cinematic voice—one that finds beauty and revelation in the everyday while challenging dominant narratives through attentive, compassionate observation.” @tallyfilmfest taken in Tallahassee, Florida by @askeda

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a month ago

Six months ago “The Moths & the Flame” premiered @berlinaleforum @berlinale. More screening and engagement opportunities happening this Fall. So excited to share more news soon. Eternally grateful to all who helped on this film. by @askeda

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2 months ago

@tallyfilmfest has been home to every film I’ve made. ❤️ It’s a huge honor to share, “THE MOTHS & THE FLAME” will be playing the fest in early October. Thank you to everyone at TALLY FF for their appreciation and support of Florida stories. You guys are #1 in my eyes. Abrazos 🫂 taken in Tallahassee, Florida by @askeda

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2 months ago

“Kevin Contento continues sharing his fascination for Pahokee in Palm Beach County and his deep connection to the place with audiences in theatres around the world. It was already the setting of his short film “From Fish to Moon” - which we discussed with him in 2023 and then he returned to the Berlinale in 2026 with his feature film “The Moths and the Flame”, once again set in this distinctive locale. Mainly focused on friends of his, who portray versions of themselves on camera. @berlinale @berlinaleforum

Kevin has stayed true to his unmistakable filmmaking approach, capturing real people in authentic moments - often unscripted and at times shaped spontaneously. Still not presented as pure observation in the sense of most documentaries, but rather as constructs of heightened reality under his direction.

His portrayal of young fathers and men on the cusp of fatherhood, navigating the fragile realities of their hometown, reveals characters marked by warmth, vulnerability, and occasional humor, presented with striking honesty.

In our second “Short Talks” together, we continue exploring Kevin Contento’s cinematic language and intent as a director in conversation with the filmmaker himself.”

A BRNWH production by Raphael Keric & Daniel Pook.
© Daniel Pook & Raphael Keric (2026) - All rights reserved. taken in Berlin, Germany by @askeda

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4 months ago