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In Mexico there is a cult that is rapidly growing - the cult of Saint Death. This female grim reaper, considered a saint by followers but Satanic by the Catholic Church, is worshipped by people whose lives are filled with danger and/or violence - criminals, gang members, transvestites, sick people, drug addicts and families living in rough neighborhoods. SAINT DEATH examines the origins of the cult and takes us on a tour of the altars, jails, and neighborhoods in Mexico where the Saint's most devoted followers can be found. Narrated by Gael Garcia Bernal.
Eva Aridjis grew up in Mexico City and then attended Princeton University, where she received a B.A. in Comparative Literature. Upon graduation from Princeton she went into New York University's M.F.A. program in Film and TV and made four short films, including the documentary "Taxidermy: The Art of Imitating Life"(official selection at the Sundance Film Festival, Edinburgh Film Festival, etc.), the fiction film "Billy Twist" (official selection at the Sundance Film Festival, Los Angeles Independent Short Film Festival, etc.), and "The Passenger" (winner of a Warner Brothers Pictures Film Production Award and a Screen Gems Award). She received her M.F.A. in 2001.
After NYU she made a feature documentary entitled "Children of the Street" ("Nios de la Calle"), about four street kids living in Mexico City. "Children of the Street" was nominated for 2 Mexican Academy Awards (Arieles) in the categories of Best Feature Documentary and Best First Feature and won the Best Documentary Feature prize at the Morelia International Film Festival in 2003.
Eva completed her first narrative feature, "The Favor", in 2006. It is a drama starring Frank Wood and Ryan Donowho and tells the story of a troubled, orphaned teenager and the man who adopts him. "The Favor" had its World Premiere at the CineVegas Film Festival in June 2006 (where it received a prize), and Ryan Donowho also received the "Best Actor" prize at the San Diego Film Festival for his role in the film. "The Favor" was released theatrically in Mexico in 2007 and had its U.S. theatrical, TV, and DVD releases in 2008.
Eva currently teaches screenwriting at NYU.
