2023 Official Selections

Art Exhibits & Community Partners areas open

Welcome

Two Wolves & Still Here

Two Wolves by Shannon Ross.  Prison is dark and hopelessness is darker. But the path forward starts with self-empowerment and there are many examples before and around us of how to reach our potential and achieve liberation.  

Shannon Ross was born to biracial parents and raised on Milwaukee’s north side, where he received a 17 year prison sentence for a violent crime when he was 19. Over the course of his incarceration, he acquired his bachelor’s degree in business administration, created and ran a mental health program in the prison for 2 years that still exits, had several articles published locally and nationally, and founded The Community with invaluable outside support in 2014. Since his release in 2020, Shannon is also a founding partner of Multidimensional Justice Solutions firm called Paradigm Shyft, an Education Trust fellow, a Marquette University EPP fellow, a graduate of the Masters in Sustainable Peacebuilding program at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and a first time father.

Still Here by Mariah G Barrera.  a profoundly personal film about a Latino family in the Midwest, tells the story of three brothers whose coming of age was stained by violence, poverty, and prison. Through first person recollections, the Barrera brothers confront childhood trauma and the compounding loss of freedom. But this isn’t a story about hopelessness — it’s an intimate exploration of a love that endures decades of separation. A love that has kept these brothers together now, and indefinitely. Directed, written, filmed and edited by Mariah Barrera, the daughter and niece of the protagonists, STILL HERE is a revealing, raw, and powerful portrayal of a family whose story is shared through the filmmaker’s lens.  

Mariah Barrera is a 20 year old, Mexican-American writer and filmmaker born and raised in Michigan. She is currently based in New York City where she is a sophomore at Columbia University. With over 30 awards for her art, Mariah is a Hispanic Heritage Foundation National Awardee in Media & Entertainment and National YoungArts Foundation alumni. Her work has been shown at festivals such as DOC NYC and highlighted by Adobe Gen Create and NowThis.

Her films aim to contextualize themes of social justice and equity through the lens of her family’s experiences in the urban midwest. Using these stories, Mariah is passionate about bridging the gap between narrative and documentary through the use of poetry. Currently, she is in post-production for a documentary made as a Still I Rise Film Fellow.

Confronting & Overcoming Barriers after Incarceration: Panel discussion featuring formerly incarcerated folks

Art & Krimes

While locked-up for six years in federal prison, artist Jesse Krimes secretly creates monumental works of art—including an astonishing 40-foot mural made with prison bed sheets, hair gel, and newspaper. He smuggles out each panel piece-by-piece with the help of fellow artists, only seeing the mural in totality upon coming home. As Jesse's work captures the art world's attention, he struggles to adjust to life outside, living with the threat that any misstep will trigger a life sentence.

The Emmy Award-nominated film includes animation created by acclaimed animator Molly Schwartz in collaboration with Jesse Krimes. The original score is by composer Amanda Jones in collaboration with formerly incarcerated musicians who are alumni of Musicambia. 

Spoken word performance by Breaking Free Poets

Broken Systems & Until We All Count

Twyana Davis, a first-time director, tackled a social relevant subject in her debut film "Broken Systems."

Passionate about social injustice, Twyana embarked on a mission to shed light on the pressing issue of parole reform in the justice system. Through storytelling of personal lived experience, "Broken Systems" shares a true incident that happened to her while recently released from serving a 15 year sentence. It highlights the challenges faced while on Parole in pursuit of redemption and reintegration into society.

Twyana's thought provoking narrative and and empathetic direction has captured the hearts of audiences in in person screenings and across the social media platforms.

As a first-time director, Twyana fearlessly took on a complex subject, sparking conversations and inspiring change in the Ohio Prison system. "Broken Systems" is a testament to Twyana Davis' dedication to using film as a powerful tool for advocacy and social impact.

In Georgia, hundreds of thousands of people cannot vote because of a felony conviction. Page and Kareemah, two friends who crossed paths in prison, have different stories but a common goal, to raise awareness and end the discriminatory practice of taxation without representation.

“Until We All Count” reveals felony disenfranchisement as a remnant of Jim Crow, designed to suppress the votes of Black Georgians — and celebrates the roots-up advocacy of formerly incarcerated women in Georgia working to win back our rights.

The Film Industry and the Justice Impacted: Presentation on how the justice impacted can create their space in the film industry

A New Day 1

Every year 600,000 men and women return to our communities from incarceration. 95% of prisoners will one day come home. As a result of their criminal record, they face significant barriers to housing, employment, and other elements of a productive life.

Step into the lives of Alona, Hajee, and Jason as they seek to live out their second chance.

National Solutions for Removing Barriers: Panel featuring leaders working on the national level to remove barriers to reentry

Injustice: Hidden Crisis in Virginia's Prisons

This film tells the story of how the criminal legal system impacts people and communities in Virginia. Through the stories of families, formerly incarcerated individuals and advocates we learn how policies have created a revolving door that keeps Virginians entrenched in the justice system. The film centers on three community organizers as they work to fight against the criminal legal system.

Closing Remarks