San Quentin Film Festival to Return to Bay Area Prison for a Second Year; ‘Sing Sing’ Producers Launch Masterclasses for Incarcerated Men (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Selome Hailu The San Quentin Film Festival, which in October became the world’s first-ever film festival inside of a prison, is returning for a second year.

The festival was founded by Rahsaan “New York” Thomas, a filmmaker who was previously incarcerated at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, and San Quentin volunteer Cori Thomas (no relation). “For 2025, the goal is to expand the impact by being more inclusive,” Rahsaan said in a statement. “That starts with finding ways for people incarcerated beyond the walls of San Quentin to participate too.” “Making it possible for people to experience this population on the basis of what they can do, rather than what they have done, was everything,” Cori said. “Several of the incarcerated filmmakers who participated in the festival have since left prison and now hold internships and paid positions in the industry — something they could have only dreamed of before.

We can’t wait for the magic to happen again this year!” The festival will open for submissions on April 1. Categories include narrative and documentary short films from current or formerly incarcerated filmmakers, which will be judged by a jury of actors, filmmakers and entertainment executives not in prison; narrative and documentary feature films open to all filmmakers, judged by a jury of incarcerated people at San Quentin; and narrative and documentary pitches.

Additionally, the festival has launched an event series titled SQFF Presents, intended to bring screenings, masterclasses and panels to San Quentin throughout the year.