A film examining the intersection of poverty and portraiture, “Theirs is the Kingdom” follows the rare creation of a contemporary fresco mural inside the sanctuary of a small church in Asheville, NC.

This is a painting not of the rich and powerful, but of people battling homelessness, addiction, and mental illness. From first sketch to final unveiling, the viewer witnesses the difficulties of this ancient artistic technique while also meeting an ensemble cast of complex characters.

Christopher Zaluski is an award-winning filmmaker, journalist, and assistant professor at Wake Forest University’s Documentary Film Program. Prior to entering the world of documentary film, Zaluski worked as a newspaper reporter and multimedia producer at The St. Louis Post-Dispatch and The Roanoke Times. He has also worked in nonprofit communication as the Video Director at Teach For America.

His creative work has earned recognition from numerous organizations, including the Online News Association and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. His documentaries have screened at festivals worldwide, and his film “Wagonmasters” was acquired by PBS, Amazon, and Kanopy. “Theirs is the Kingdom” is his feature-length debut.