Hemisphere Picks Up Pope Francis Biographical Film & Miniseries

Hemisphere Media Group has acquired the exclusive rights for Francisco, El Jesuita, which traces the life of Pope Francis, in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

The film will air on WAPA-TV on April 18 and Cinelatino on April 19. The biographical miniseries will air in the U.S. on WAPA América and Cinelatino and will be released on AVOD on ViX, The Roku Channel and Tubi.

Produced by Anima Films in collaboration with History Channel, Francisco, El Jesuita was the winner of the International Emmy Award for best non-English language U.S. prime-time program in 2016. It is based on the book El Jesuita: Conversaciones con el Cardenal Jorge Bergoglio by journalists Francesca Ambrogetti and Sergio Rubín, telling the story of Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s extraordinary journey from humble beginnings in Argentina to becoming the first Latin American pope in history.

“This acquisition underscores Hemisphere’s commitment to bringing timely, high-caliber, culturally significant content to Hispanic audiences in the U.S. and Puerto Rico,” said Alan Sokol, president and CEO of Hemisphere Media Group. “Francisco, El Jesuita is a compelling and timely production that sheds light on the life and legacy of one of the most influential figures in the modern world.”