Premiere is a success that showcased incarcerated and formerly incarcerated filmmakers
A prison chapel was turned into a movie theater as incarcerated filmmakers made history — their talents screened alongside motion picture professionals — while popcorn, M&Ms, and other theater concessions circulated amongst the audience.
On October 11–12, the inaugural San Quentin Film Festival was held in Chapel B. The red-carpet event attracted cinema, TV, and news publication professionals.
Awards were presented for Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Narrative Short, and Best Screenplay Pitch.
An incarcerated jury determined the awards for outside filmmakers, while an outside jury determined the awards for incarcerated filmmakers.
Eric “Maserati-E” Abercrombie, previously incarcerated at the Q, opened up the festival with a song entitled “Break the Mold.” He wooed the audience with his song.
“I am so far from perfection, I speak for more than one person. If we can break mold we can change the world,” sang Abercrombie.
SQ Volunteer Cori Thomas and Rashaan “New York” Thomas — formerly incarcerated at the Q — founded the event.
“Thank you so much for making my dream come true,” C. Thomas told attendees. She then told the audience that resident filmmaker Bernard “Raheem” Ballard was currently in a Parole Hearing, saying, “lets keep him on our mind.”
Correctional Officials in attendance were, CDCR Director Ron Broomfield, SQ Warden C. Andes, Public Information Officer Lt. G. Berry, and Sgt J. Graves.
“This is mind blowing, said Broomfield. “I was here [SQ] for seven years, what I walked into, my mind was blown.”
Warden Andes thanked everyone that brought an amazing vibe to this event; he thanked the prison’s leaders for supporting the way we do rehabilitation.
“I want to recognize the first film festival; I hope we have more in the future,” Andes said.
The Narrative Film Shorts were the first to be screened. This category was open to both currently and formerly incarcerated filmmakers.
“Every Second” was directed by formerly incarcerated Antwan Banks and starred former SQ resident Maurice Reese. The short film depicted his struggles after being released.
Mike Rae Anderson, who served 17 years in prison, directed “In a Match Box.” The film depicted the character Uncle Wendell’s desire to share an age-old family secret that could change the world with his nephew.
D’Angelo “D’Lo Louis directed “Shoebox,” which portrayed an inner city youth exposed to the perils of street life and forced to make hard decisions to survive.
The next screenings were for two categories of Best Documentary, one limited to current residents housed at the Q, and the other open to both currently and formerly incarcerated people.
Bernard “Raheem” Ballard directed “Dying Alone,” featuring SQ residents Richard Sanchez, Rico Rodgers, and Amir Shabazz. The film depicted aging SQ residents as they yearned for a compassionate release.
“The film was needed, not just here at SQ, but for the aging population in California prisons. Anytime an incarcerated person is over 50-years of age they are considered elderly,” Shabazz said.
“Healing Through Hula,” directed by SQ resident Saleh Louis, depicted the story of incarcerated men striving to reconnect with their culture through a Hawaiian dance ceremony called Makahiki.
“Unhoused and Unseen” was directed by Dante D. Jones and Steven Rhashiyd Zinnamon, with contributions from UC Berkeley volunteers Mo Dick, and Marie Toldy.
The film brings awareness to being unhoused, drawing on the lived experience of SQ residents Meso El-Coles and Kolby Southwood.
The screening for the Best Feature Film included “Sing Sing,” “Daughters,” “Strike,” “Songs from the Hole,” and “Four Letters.”
“Sing Sing,” directed by Greg Kweder, showed the evolution of a friendship through theatrical comedy and the trials and tribulations of prison life.
“Daughters,” directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, depicted how incarcerated fathers yearn to be near their daughters. The fathers participated in a ten-week parenting class to prepare them for a daddy daughter’s dance inside a D.C. prison.
“The Strike,” directed by Joebill Munoz and Lucas Guilkey, told the story of nonviolent resistance inside a California prison depicting a hunger strike addressing harmful solitary confinement practices.
“Songs from the Hole,” directed by Contessa Gayles, was narrated by the rap lyrics of James Jacobs, a man in prison for a murder committed while he was a minor. The film details the true story of how Jacobs found redemption through forgiveness after discovering that a fellow incarcerated resident killed his brother.
“Four Letters,” directed by Bao Nyugen, told the story of engineer Charles Anderson, who rose from the depths of the criminal justice system to find hope and purpose.
Best Narrative Short went to “In a Matchbox,” directed by Mike Rae Anderson.
“I don’t know about ya’ll, I feel we all won today,” Anderson stated virtually upon receiving the news.
Best Screenplay Pitch was awarded to SQ resident Todd A. Winkler for “Exodus.”
“It felt validating when someone of the jury members told me how they appreciated the complexity of the characters and…layers of conflict,” Winkler said.
Best Documentary Pitch awarded to Kevin D. Sawyer for “The History of SQ Journalism.”
“We lost our freedom, we lost our voice,” Sawyer shared. “If it was not for SQNews there would not be any Media Center, thank you, I am humble to receive this award.
The Best Featured film was awarded to “The Strike”. According to Director Lucas Guilkey, the film was dedicated to Paul Redd who was a important part of the film. Redd was a plantiff in a lawsuit against the State of California. He was released from prison, and soon after passed away.
“I was one of the people in the film [The Strike],” said Jack Morris. “Thank you everyone for allowing us to share the film.”
The award for Best Documentary (currently or formerly incarcerated) went to “Healing Through Hula,” directed by Saleh Louis.
“This is for the culture, I dedicate this to the man whose life ended too soon. I do it with reconciliation,” said Louis on receiving the honor.
Best Documentary (SQ residents) went to “Dying Alone,” directed by Bernard “Raheem” Ballard. He received another award for direction presented by Open Society Foundations Award for Short Film.
“This is my 22nd year [in prison]. I am not supposed to be here today, my release date was 2039,” Ballard said after returning to the festival from his Parole Hearing, where he was found suitable for parole.
“I couldn’t believe it; I was numb,” he said, sharing that the Commissioners took only five minutes to deliberate.
“I can honestly say that this was the best day of my life,” Ballard said.
Kerry Washington an award-winning actor, producer, and executive director of “Daughters” sat down with R. Thomas.
Thomas and Washington joked about being natives of New York, coming to the conclusion that they were cousins. They discussed Washington’s success in acting, producing, and directing.
“I am really lucky to do what I love to do. I really want a world to be filled with liberation,” Washington stated.
