THE QUILTERS follows the daily lives of several men, spending most of its screen time inside the sewing room in a Level 5 maximum security prison in a small Missouri town. As we follow several quilts from design to completion, audiences will come to know these men, witnessing their struggles, triumphs, and sense of pride as they create something beautiful in this windowless, sacred space, deep within the prison walls. Through this process and the relationships forged we witness the power of art to restore an individual's view of themselves and others. The men we meet in THE QUILTERS are building connection with each other and a bridge of sorts to the outside community through their quilt making.

My goal as a filmmaker is to bridge divides and when possible restore hope. My hope is that this film will enhance the human experience and encourage empathy. I believe the restorative justice art program illustrated in this documentary can be replicated in other prisons and the film can help make that a reality. Most importantly, this story humanizes how we think about who sits behind bars in this country.

I was honored to be welcomed in to the sewing room by the men at South Central Correctional in Missouri and am thrilled to have THE QUILTERS screen at the San Quentin film festival.