Caleb Landry Jones says it took five years to secure funding for ‘Down the Arm of God’, a drama about homelessness, community resistance and faith that will premiere at the Locarno Film Festival. The project faced concerns over its use of real homeless people and accusations it could risk appearing disrespectful or promote a “white saviour” narrative, underlining the sensitivities around portraying homelessness on screen.

Directed by Peter Brunner, the Texas-set film follows Jones as Nick, a pastor who shelters a homeless encampment in his church during winter and encounters escalating local hostility. Based partly on true events, it grew from a father-son story and was shaped through research with charities in Dallas, Austin and Amarillo; Luc Besson ultimately provided backing through EuropaCorp after seeing Jones struggle to finance it.