WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Today the nation’s first in-prison film festival concluded its third annual event at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQRC), showcasing films created by currently and formerly incarcerated people. Nearly 400 people attended the event on Oct. 22 and Oct. 23, including entertainment industry professionals, educators and community advocates such as Darrell Britt-Gibson and Jonathan Penner. Awards were presented throughout the event, including “Prolung Khmer” for American documentary award for short film.
BIGGER PICTURE: The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is committed to rehabilitation and reentry, providing incarcerated people with the tools they need to successfully and safely reenter their communities. The San Quentin Film Festival (SQFF) helps facilitate these goals by fostering accountability and deep self-reflection, which address the behavioral drivers of crime, and by improving institutional culture and safety through constructive engagement and building a pro-social community. CDCR and SQRC underscore the commitment to rehabilitation through the new San Quentin Learning Center (SQLC), featuring a media center. The multi-level space with donated state-of-the-art equipment enables the population to obtain employable skills through training in video production, journalism and other media as they prepare to successfully and safely return to their communities.
Jeff Macomber, Secretary, CDCR
“The San Quentin Film Festival provides incarcerated people the opportunity to develop their skills, learn from industry professionals and have their work recognized. This all supports rehabilitative success and reentry.”
FILM FESTIVAL DETAILS: SQFF, created in 2024 by award-winning playwright, screenwriter and author Cori Thomas and formerly incarcerated filmmaker, podcaster and writer Rahsaan “New York” Thomas, highlights the work of currently and formerly incarcerated filmmakers. In 2026, SQFF expanded to the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, hosting the first film festival inside a women’s correctional facility. Since its inception, participants have leveraged their media experience gained at the festival to pursue careers in the film industry after release, including earning internships and job opportunities, demonstrating the potential of rehabilitative programming to transforming incarcerated participants into successful professionals in the field.
Cori Thomas, SQFF Co-Founder and Artistic Director
Festival Winners
Best Narrative Short Film Award: Run It Back by Abby Pierce
American Documentary Award for Short Film: Prolung Khmer by Sophear Om and Louis Sale, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center
Best Documentary Short Film Award: Life Letter by Michael Bell and Rachel McMillian
Best Long Short Award: The Window on Death Row by Linda Catherine Freund
Best Narrative Feature Award: Union County by Adam Meeks
Best Documentary Feature Award: March Forth by Robe Imbriano and Valerie Hong
Best Narrative Pitch Award: Lyric by Jason Johnson, Folsom State Prison
Best Documentary Pitch Award: Bald-Headed Hispanic: I Became What I Saw by Jessie Milo, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center
Bruce Sinofsky Changemaker Award: Raphaele Casale
Elliot the G.O.A.T. Impact and Innovation Award: Kerwin Pittman
Marcus “Wali” Henderson Mentorship Award: Kenyatta Leal
Vernell M. Crittendon, Jr. Legacy Award: Inaugural award presented to former San Quention Rehabilitation Center Public Information Officer, Vernell M. Crittendon
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