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Logline

A young Joseph Smith, drunk on divine purpose and showmanship, attempts a resurrection in front of his followers. Risking everything in a single grotesque performance that blurs the line between prophet, conman, and madman.

Synopsis

In 1830s Missouri, a young Joseph Smith is building his reputation as a divine prophet of his newly established church. Inside a small frontier chapel and sweating in the summer heat, his attending flock is captivated by the promise of miracles. As they watch, he performs a series of acts that blur the line between belief and deception.

The story starts with a miracle, the banishing of demons from a possessed man speaking in tongues. The performance stuns the room, though its authenticity is suspect. The second miracle, the supposed healing of an old man’s arthritic hands, only deepens the crowd’s devotion. But it’s the third miracle that will define Smith’s fate in Missouri, the resurrection of a dead child.

When a grieving couple places their lifeless son at Smith’s feet, the congregation holds its breath. At first, their faith remains intact, this is, after all, a man who has already performed wonders. But as Smith grips the child and begins to shake him, desperation creeps in. The rhythm breaks. The crowd turns. What began as a confident display of divine power dissolves into something darker, grotesque, unnerving, and undeniably human.

American Prophet unfolds in three parts, each miracle escalating the tension and peeling back the layers of Smith’s persona. Prophet or performer? Savior or charlatan? The film explores the strange alchemy of charisma, faith, spectacle, and the terrifying power that confident men can wield over those willing to believe.

Meet the Filmmakers

Conor Long — Director
Conor is an award-winning filmmaker from Utah and now based in Los Angeles. He’s known for blending an academic approach to cinema with a fearless, guerrilla filmmaking spirit. For over 15 years, he has directed projects across the globe, often in foreign languages, drawing inspiration from the people, cultures, and stories he encounters along the way. Conor has directed dozens of short films, music videos, and commercials, and a feature, as well as having taught animation and screenwriting at the University of Utah before relocating to Hollywood. Since then, he has written, directed, and animated content for clients including Funny Or Die, Discovery, Lady Gaga, Exploding Kittens, and Alanis Morissette continually pushing the boundaries of storytelling across mediums.

Eduardo Ayres Soares — Producer
Eduardo Ayres Soares is a Brazilian producer based in Los Angeles, dedicated to developing and producing character-driven stories centered on queer and Latino voices. His work spans narrative short films and hybrid projects, including Chuck and Fern, a live-action fantasy short; Romeo and Juliet, a film in Brazilian Sign Language; Party Princess, directed by Daniel Barosa; and Homecoming, a short film created as part of an anthology feature.

A 2025 Film Independent Project Involve Fellow (Producing Track), Eduardo recently produced Keepsake, which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival. He focuses on building strong creative teams, structuring financing, and guiding projects from development through post-production and festival strategy.

Cinematographer — Sean Bagley
Sean is a Director of Photography based in Los Angeles. Though he was raised in the LDS church in Utah, his love for cinema brought him to LA where he graduated from the American Film Institute in 2015 and now shoots narrative and commercial projects all over the world. Sean’s narrative work includes feature films, THE DARK DIVIDE, ALL SOULS and HE WENT THAT WAY and his recent commercial portfolio includes work for Nike, Google, Verizon, McDonald’s, BMW, Gatorade, Samsung and Delta. Sean is represented by The Gersh Agency.

Writer — Walter Mirkss
Walter is a Latvian filmmaker, now thriving in Salt Lake City, Utah. After completing his masters degree in Film & Media, Walter has worked as an instructor at the University of Utah while writing Livonia (2019), Elza (2021), and A Ghosted Heart (2025). Walter has been writing Bearslayer, a TV series based on Latvian folklore and history that was recently pitched at Black Nights Film Market in Tallin, Estonia.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.