Emerson College Library: Education in Prison: Conference on College in Prison 2025: Day 2, Inthrive Film Festival

Inthrive Film Festival

The Inthrive Film Festival amplifies the stories, voices, and talents of incarceration survivors so that their voices change the narrative about what it means to have survived incarceration and people are moved to remove barriers to successful reentry in their communities. Inthrive founder David Smith was present to introduce each set of films and moderate a panel discussion following each block. Panels featured a variety of knowledgeable participants, from the creators and subjects of films to local community organizers and other advocates for the rights of incarcerated people.

Inthrive Film Festival
From Incarceration to Thriving: Inthrive Film Festival celebrates the voices and talents of incarceration survivors to change the narrative around incarceration.

Boston Stories: Holding up the Sky and It Starts With Us

Holding Up the Sky: An ex-felon rebuilds his life & helps others do the same
Attendees were treated to a fresh-off-the-presses screening of Bob Nesson's latest film, Holding Up the Sky.
We Are Better Together
We Are Better Together Warren Daniel Hairston Project (WAB2G) was founded by Ruth Rollins in 2017, after the murder of her son, Danny Hairston, and the incarceration of her second son. Although there were services available for homicide victim’s families (survivors), there weren’t any available to mothers who had lost loved ones to incarceration. The film "It Starts With Us" features interviews with a number of the women involved in WAB2G.
Engagement Lab Spring 2024 Collaborative Documentary
"It Starts With Us" was created by students in Bob Nesson's Collaborative Documentary Social Impact Studio class as part of a collaboration between WAB2G and Emerson's Engagement Lab.

Inside the Prison Walls: Cell Blocks to Mountain Tops and On Beyond Fences

Cellblocks to Mountaintops
"Cellblocks to Mountaintops" is a multimedia podcast with a companion video series. It delves into how America addresses violence, defines justice, and seeks accountability through the compelling journey of one man. Episodes 5A and 8A of the video series were shown at the event.
"On Beyond Fences" Official TRAILER
A rare, intimate look inside Maine State Prison, where efforts to reform the historically brutal institution have radically transformed the prison culture and environment, the way "residents" do their time and, ultimately, how they return to their communities.

Voices of Incarceration Survivors: Two Wolves, Little April, Until We All Count, and Roommates

Represent Justice
The three films above were produced by Represent Justice, an organization centered around using the power of storytelling to engage audiences in reimagining the legal system and creating real demand for change
Roommates: They share more than space
Roommates was the final film for this block. The directors interview a pair of women who moved in together at a nursing home dedicated to formerly incarcerated people as they reflect on their new routines.
‘Model’ Nursing Home For Paroled Inmates To Get Federal Funds
Read more about the Connecticut nursing home where Roommates is set, including the challenges faced there and at similar institutions trying to find funding.

What These Walls Can't Hold

What These Walls Won't Hold
Transcending the grim realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, Adamu Chan's powerful documentary paints a poignant portrait of resilience and hope blossoming within the confines of San Quentin State Prison. Chan, formerly incarcerated himself, offers a unique insider's view, delving into his own journey towards freedom while simultaneously amplifying the voices of his community and their loved ones on both sides of the prison walls.
Adamu Chan
Adamu Chan is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and community organizer whose artistry is deeply rooted in relationships and lived experience. Based in the Bay Area, Adamu discovered his passion for filmmaking during his incarceration at San Quentin State Prison, where he used his unique perspective to craft powerful visual stories that amplify voices often silenced.