Inthrive Film Festival: Overcoming Incarceration

Pathway to Freedom – When 18-year-old Willie Nobles was handed a staggering 96-year sentence, his mother, Ginny Parham, refused to let him become a statistic. This moving 25-minute documentary short captures her relentless 25-year fight to free her son and combat mass incarceration in her community. Culminating in Willie’s awe-inspiring release, it is an unforgettable testament to a mother’s love, community solidarity, and the sheer grit required to confront a broken legal machine.

Prison and Time – Where does a person find the strength to grow when the walls around them are designed to break them down? Through visually striking animation, filmmaker Evan Bode brings the words of writer and activist Marvin Wade to life. Reflecting on 25 years of incarceration, Wade challenges the false narrative of institutional rehabilitation, showing how personal evolution and healing happen in spite of an inhumane system.

Beyond Trauma: Stories of Hope – This intimate documentary follows formerly incarcerated men as they courageously confront the unhealed childhood wounds that shaped their lives. Using raw storytelling and expressive art, these men trace their pain back to its roots. The film offers a beautifully realized roadmap for moving forward, revealing that understanding the origins of trauma is the ultimate key to shattering cycles of incarceration and finding true accountability.

Join us to witness this incredible journey from pain to purpose, and celebrate the resilience of the human spirit over systemic failure.

Register via Eventbrite HERE

See the weekend’s full schedule at https://inthrivefilmfestival.org/richmond