San Quentin Film Festival team visits CMF

October 21, 2025

Organizers from the San Quentin Film Festival recently visited the media program at California Medical Facility (CMF) in Vacaville.

“It’s hard to put into words what it means to me about the San Quentin Film Festival coming into this institution to see us, the media team,” said Joshua Garcia, an incarcerated person at CMF. “I know they’re not going into any other institutions. I’ve never heard of this.”

Two films created by the CMF media team will be screened at the San Quentin Film Festival being held Oct. 23-24.

“I mean, you all are doing amazing work,” said C. Thomas, founder and co-director of the film festival. “You’ve got a beautiful set up. So just to kind of, like, lift you all up and let people see what you’re doing, because that’ll also get support.”

The media team created a documentary about the transformative power of art.

“Our documentary is about the process of what it is to use rehabilitation through the lens of arts, media and entertainment,” said Yekaterina Patience, another media team member. “So, we want to show the world a different narrative of who we are and what makes us who we are.”

Watch the video (story continues below):

Learning from those who came before

B. Gonsoulin, formerly incarcerated at San Quentin, and now a co-producer for the film festival, praised the CMF media team.

“Look, when I got to San Quentin, our media wasn’t like this. We (had) nothing, really. We didn’t have half of the stuff you guys have here,” Gonsoulin said. “But, over time, we turned it into a top-class media center. And now that I am out, this is the field I work in.”

Gonsoulin explained how the media program can turn into outside employment opportunities.

“I’m a student at San Francisco State (and) I’m a documentary filmmaker,” he said.

M. Azano, TV specialist at CMF, with a quote from the story about inspiring residents who was to be part of the creative community.

CMF TV Specialist M. Azano assists the media team.

“My contribution is to make sure I’m bringing in positive engagements with education,” Azano said. “(We’re) inspiring residents who want to be part of the creative community or create a creative community in prison. And that’s where my drive is and what makes me feel like coming to work every day is engaging.”

Acting Warden S. Williams was on hand for their visit.

“Do you guys have any pointers or any recommendations,” she asked. “(Are there) things that we should do or we shouldn’t do, as you’ve been doing it for a long time?”

Support for CMF media program

Gonsoulin encouraged the institution and community to support the CMF media program.

“I would support the men back here. Because in my experience, we have a lot of value. And if you support it, good things will come out of it,” he said. “(They have) really creative minds (so) let the guys go because this is their world. And believe me, they’re going to put everything they can into it to make it successful. So as long as you’re supporting it, then they’re going to do good.”

For Patience, CMF is different than other institutions.

“I’ve been incarcerated for 32 years (in) 11 different prisons. I’ve never been anywhere where I’ve seen our wardens, administration, captains, (and) principals, so involved on the ground floor of what we’re doing as incarcerated persons,” Patience said.

Video by Bernadette Durley, TV Specialist
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Office of Public and Employee Communications

Learn more about the San Quentin Film Festival on their website.