Ten years ago, Spanish filmmakers Alvaro Porras and Gonzalo Fernández de Córdova set out to capture the lives, philosophies, and creative processes of some of the most influential contemporary artists to reveal their unique ability to create a tool for transcendence and connection that is Bigger Than Art. The duo first crossed paths at UCLA, where their shared passion for art sparked a friendship that would eventually become a decade-long creative collaboration. Years after graduating, they reunited at an art competition in Barcelona judged by prominent figures such as Antonio López, Odd Nerdrum, and Gottfried Helnwein. It was Helnwein, the Austrian-Irish hyperrealist, who first agreed to let the pair document his work and life. In 2013, they traveled to Austria to film him at the Albertina Museum during his solo exhibition, marking the unofficial beginning of their journey.

By spring 2015, the two officially began production on their feature-length documentary, Bigger Than Art. Working entirely on their own, without hiring an outside screenwriter, cinematographer, sound crew, or editing team, they poured themselves into the 85-minute film. “It melted into our life, and now we can’t separate from it,” said Porras. “We’ve put our hearts into it.”

At the heart of the film is a captivating conversation between Helnwein and award-winning actor and director, and villain of the newest action blockbuster, One Battle After Another, Sean Penn. Their dialogue explores the origins of art, humanity’s enduring relationship with it, and its ability to transcend cultural and temporal boundaries. “Art is one of humanity’s most powerful forces,” said Porras. “Through it, we connect to something greater—something we can’t quite name or touch, but that exists beyond us. That’s the essence of what we call Bigger Than Art.
Over the course of ten years, Porras and Fernández de Córdova traveled to eleven countries, forming close relationships with world-renowned artists such as Ai Weiwei, Chuck Close, Odd Nerdrum, and Antonio López. Often living with the artists themselves, the duo gained rare, intimate access into their worlds. In their quest to document these creative giants, they filmed in seven major museums, including the Prado Museum in Madrid, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and The Met in New York, temporarily closing their doors for exclusive shoots.

The film had its world premiere last October at the Newport Beach Film Festival, its only screening to date in the United States. Shortly after, the filmmakers signed with acclaimed British production company Protagonist Pictures, which has brought to market titles such as Oscar-nominated film The Brutalist, BAFTA-nominated The Outrun, and, more recently, Olivia Colman and John Lithgow starrer Jimpa, which premiered in Sundance earlier this year.
Now, after a decade of relentless work and global travel, the pair is racing against time. They must raise $35,000 by early November to bring Bigger Than Art back to the U.S. for a qualifying theatrical run, crucial for eligibility in the 2026 awards season.

The film is slated for a U.S. release this December, with screenings planned in New York and Los Angeles, two of the country’s most vital cultural epicenters. Its arrival comes at a pivotal moment within the art scene in the United States: nearly a third of American museums have experienced budget cuts this year, and the White House has launched an internal review of national cultural institutions, urging alignment with directives that emphasize “American exceptionalism” while discouraging “divisive narratives.”
“Truth is at the core of any meaningful creation,” said Porras. “Bigger Than Art is a reminder that beauty and meaning can only come from honesty. We must pursue truth relentlessly—because only then can we create something that endures.”
The Kickstarter campaign to fund the U.S. screenings is live, with 21 backers and nearly $10,000 raised so far, but the team still needs over $20,000 to reach their goal by November 6.