 ▲ Prayer Petrópolis Poster © USAjournalist |
[Los Angeles, CA — January 2026] The internationally acclaimed spiritual short film Prayer Petrópolis has won Best Actress for lead performance Priscila Buiar, along with an Honorable Mention for Director Young Man Kang, at the African Smartfilm International Film Festival (ASIFF) 2025—marking a major milestone for the globally filmed Prayer International Series.
The African Smartfilm International Film Festival (ASIFF) is recognized as Africa’s first smartphone film festival and a global leader in democratizing filmmaking. Its mission is to remove traditional barriers to entry in the film industry by championing powerful stories created with accessible technology such as smartphones, tablets, and webcams.
Directed by filmmaker Young Man Kang, Prayer Petrópolis (Episode 18 of the Prayer International Series) explores themes of faith, love, grief, and spiritual renewal against the rich cultural and religious backdrop of Petrópolis, Brazil. The film stood out among international submissions for its intimate storytelling, emotional intensity, and contemplative visual language—uniquely presented within an action-driven spiritual drama framework.
 ▲ Directed by Young Man Kang, the award-winning short marks another milestone for the Prayer International Series © USAjournalist |
The story follows Beatriz Oliveira, a determined yet haunted Brazilian police officer who finds herself in a tense standoff with a ruthless criminal, Renato Silva, inside a dilapidated palace. As Renato taunts her with memories of her sister’s murder and a SWAT team closes in, Beatriz must confront her consuming desire for vengeance. Through a series of revealing flashbacks, she faces the conflict between her duty to the law and her personal pain—ultimately choosing mercy over revenge. This pivotal decision marks the beginning of her journey toward faith and redemption.
The film stars Priscila Buiar as Beatriz Oliveira, Rodrigo Alex Moraes as Renato Silva (who also served as the film’s action choreographer), alongside Oscar Davis and Valma de Oliveira.
Produced by YMK Films, Prayer Petrópolis is part of the expanding Prayer International Series, a global collection of short films set in cities around the world, each centered on prayer as a moment of inner transformation. With this latest achievement, director Young Man Kang has now completed 32 episodes in the series.
 ▲ Prayer El Camino – Part 4: Final Chapter Poster © USAjournalist |
Most recently, Kang released Prayer El Camino – Part 4: Final Chapter, continuing the series’ exploration of faith, inner struggle, and spiritual awakening along the historic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. Additional episodes are currently in progress, documenting the journey across Bilbao, El Camino, Santiago, Porto, Lisbon, and Madrid.
Following this latest release, the Prayer International Series continues to expand as a globally filmed spiritual drama project, capturing intimate stories of prayer, faith, and inner transformation in cities around the world. As the series moves forward, the production actively seeks local producers, actors, creative partners, sponsors, and branded-content collaborators who share a passion for meaningful storytelling and cross-cultural connection.
Each episode is developed in close collaboration with local communities, blending authentic locations, regional voices, and universal themes of hope and spiritual reflection. Through these partnerships, the Prayer International Series aims to build a growing international network of creators and supporters, united by a shared journey of faith, cinema, and global storytelling.
 ▲ Prayer El Camino Series the journey across Bilbao, El Camino, Santiago, Porto, Lisbon, and Madrid. © USAjournalist |
Watch Prayer Petrópolis:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ63QuoD_es
Watch Prayer El Camino – Part 4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr_jFoKyObs
