Empowering formerly incarcerated filmmakers to transform their stories—and the film industry itself—through mentorship, funding, and community.

The Returning Filmmaker Fellowship (RFF), operated under Empowerment Avenue, supports formerly incarcerated filmmakers who demonstrate a commitment to accountability and are dedicated to creating positive change in their communities. We provide resources, mentorship, and funding to help bring their creative projects to life and/or help them establish careers in the film industry. This program aims to amplify the voices of system-impacted filmmakers and foster inclusive pathways into the entertainment industry.

Designed by and for returning citizens, RFF bridges the gap between reentry and creative industry access. Fellows receive up to $20,000 in grants, personalized mentorship from leading industry professionals, and peer support from other formerly incarcerated filmmakers. Through skill-building workshops, mental-health resources, and networking opportunities, the program cultivates a sustainable pathway for creative reintegration and professional success.

RFF operates under Empowerment Avenue’s fiscal sponsorship and infrastructure, aligning with the organization’s mission to dismantle barriers for system-impacted creators by providing the tools, visibility, and agency they need to tell their own stories.

Key Goals

Craft Development

Strengthen filmmaking skills through workshops, mentorship, and project development support.

Community

Build a peer network of system-impacted storytellers who collaborate and uplift one another.

Access

Connect fellows to industry leaders, funders, and resources that have historically excluded justice-impacted voices.

Healing

Integrate trauma-informed, wraparound reentry support to sustain fellows’ personal and professional wellbeing.

Why It Matters

Too often, returning citizens are excluded from creative industries that shape public imagination. The Returning Filmmaker Fellowship transforms that reality by investing directly in the people most impacted by incarceration. By amplifying the stories and leadership of formerly incarcerated filmmakers, RFF challenges stigma, prevents recidivism, and reshapes how America sees justice-impacted communities—not as statistics, but as visionaries redefining the culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply?

- Are a formerly incarcerated individual.
- Have been released from prison less than 3 years ago.
- Have an interest in filmmaking or a related creative discipline i.e. script writing.
- Are committed to completing a project within the fellowship timeline or making a major move to advance your film career.
- Are able to participate in bi-monthly peer-to-peer sessions.

What type of projects can I propose?

We welcome projects in any genre or format, including:
- Short films
- Documentaries
- Narrative features
- Experimental films
- Multimedia or hybrid projects
- Music Video
- Screenplay writing
- Social Media Campaigns.
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Your project should reflect your unique perspective and have the potential to create impact within your community or the broader film industry.

Is there any refund policy if I don’t like ?

- Buying film equipment (camera, lens, editing computer, sound design software, etc)
- Starting your own film business – production, cinematography, editing, etc.
- Going to film school or college with a major in Cinema or Broadcast Communications (BECA)
- Gaining employment in the film industry

What are the benefits of the fellowship?

Fellows receive:
$20,000 Production or Career Advancement Grant: Funding to support the development and production of your project or advance your career into the film industry i.e. film school, equipment purchase etc.
Peer Mentorship: Personalized guidance from successful formerly incarcerated filmmakers.
Workshops & Training: Skill-building sessions in filmmaking, financial planning, and storytelling.
Wraparound Services referrals to Community Partners: References to mental health support, individualized reentry assistance, and financial literacy training community partners.
Networking Opportunities: Invitations to industry events, like the San Quentin Film Festival, panels, and mixers.

What is the timeline for the fellowship?

Applications Open: July 2026
‍Selection Process: August 2026
‍Fellowship Start: September 2026
‍Workshops & Mentorship: September 2026 - March 2027
‍Project Completion Phase: April 2027
‍Community Showcase: April 2027 (following year)

How do I apply?

- Complete the online application form (link to be provided).
- Answer questions about your background, project idea, and goals.
- Submit work samples or portfolio links (optional).

What questions will I need to answer in the application?

Here are examples of application questions:
- Tell us about yourself and your filmmaking journey.
- What is your project or career building idea, and why is it important to you?
- How will your project impact your community or audience?
- What support or resources do you need to bring your project to life?

How are applications evaluated?

Applications are assessed using a simplified scoring rubric.
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Jurors evaluate:
- Vision: How clear and compelling is your plan for the fellowship, and how does it align with your long-term career goals?
- Connection: Does your personal story align with your project and career path, showcasing a strong foundation for future work?
-Feasibility: Can the project be realistically completed within the timeline and resources, and does the plan demonstrate alignment with your overall professional trajectory?
- Impact Potential: Will the project create meaningful change or inspire audiences, and does it advance your goals as a changemaker in your field?
- Creativity: Does your project bring a fresh or unique perspective, and does it highlight your distinct voice and potential for innovation?
- Community Accountability: Does your project center and value the people portrayed in your film concept, and does it demonstrate a commitment to ethical storytelling and long-term engagement with your community?
- Career Development: Does the applicant demonstrate a clear vision for how the fellowship and project will serve as a catalyst for their overall career growth and future opportunities?

**Each category is scored on a scale of 1–5.

How many fellows will be selected?

We plan to select 5 fellows for the upcoming pilot cohort.

What if I have no prior filmmaking experience?

Prior filmmaking experience is not required. We value passion, vision, and the ability to tell a compelling story. If you are new to filmmaking, peer-to-peer mentorship and workshops will provide the tools you need to succeed.

What if I face barriers to participating?

We are committed to supporting you. If you face challenges (e.g., access to technology, travel limitations, parole/probation), let us know in your application, and we’ll work to provide accommodations.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

Email Thanh at newkrma@gmail.com or attend one of our informational webinars.

Do you accept applications from everyone?

At this time, our program is primarily by invitation or referral. We do not publicly post an open application

I wasn't invited or referred. Can I still be considered?

Yes. If you believe your work aligns with Empowerment Avenue's mission, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact us through our website with information about yourself, your work, and why you're interested in the program.If we believe there may be a good fit, we'll schedule a screening conversation to learn more about you and discuss whether the program is the right match. Because our capacity is limited, we're thoughtful about who we invite into the program to ensure we can provide meaningful support to every participant.

What Fellows Receive

$20,000 Production or Career Advancement Grant: Funding to support the development and production of your project or advance your career into the film industry i.e. film school, equipment purchase etc.
Peer Mentorship: Personalized guidance from successful formerly incarcerated filmmakers.
Workshops & Training: Skill-building sessions in filmmaking, financial planning, and storytelling.
Peer Support: Connection to a cohort of fellow returning filmmakers.
Wraparound Services referrals to Community Partners: References to mental health support, individualized reentry assistance, and financial literacy training community partners.
Networking Opportunities: Invitations to industry events, like the San Quentin Film Festival, panels, and mixers.

Program Deliverables

Completion or advancement of a film project, short film, or script.
Participation in at least three workshops and the San Quentin Film Festival showcase.
Professional development materials (project deck, pitch, or reel).
Contribution to an alumni network and peer mentorship pipeline.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by a diverse panel of film and reentry leaders, including formerly incarcerated artists and industry professionals. After an initial review, finalists will be invited for interviews. Selection is based on creative vision, commitment to community impact, and readiness to engage in the fellowship’s collaborative learning environment.

Panel Reviewers Include: Antwan “Banks” Williams, MikeRae Anderson, Kamisha Thomas, D’Angelo Louis, Brian Gonsoulin, Sara’o Bery (A24), and Cousin Shy.

Partner Organizations

Empowerment Avenue – Fiscal sponsor and administrative home for the fellowship.
‍Ahimsa Collective, CROP, Catholic Hospitality Houses – Reentry and housing support.
‍FEEL, Ri-Karlo Handy Foundation – Financial literacy and technical training.
‍A24 – Industry mentorship and creative support.
‍Manifest Works – Professional development and workforce pipeline partner

People & Partners

Thanh Tran

Executive Director

Thanh Tran is an Amerasian-Vietnamese and Black filmmaker, music artist, and community organizer from Sacramento. While incarcerated at San Quentin, he co-founded Uncuffed, an award-winning podcast, and ForwardThis Productions, a trailblazing film collective. He is also the co-founder of New Krma Collective, a creative label and mutual aid network that supports directly impacted artists through music, film, and activism. Thanh now directs Finding Má, a feature documentary tracing his family’s search for their unhoused mother after years of separation through the foster care and prison systems. He serves as a Program Manager for the Returning Filmmaker Fellowship and sits on advisory council for the New Breath Foundation and the Board of the Andrus Family Foundation. Through storytelling, advocacy, and music, he works to shift dominant narratives around race, incarceration, and migration. His work has been supported by the Sundance Institute, Ford Foundation, and Creative Capital to name a few.

2025 Cohort Members

JJ’88

JJ’88 (he/him) is a musician, music producer, writer, vocalist, and filmmaker from Long Beach, California. He is a prison abolitionist who, at the age of 15, was sentenced to 40-years-to-life in California state prison. His music and story are the focal point of the visual album-documentary he wrote and co-produced, Songs From The Hole, which premiered at SXSW 2024. He has released four singles since coming home from prison including his latest, Hustla’s Lament, and has been quoted in Billboard and Respect Magazines.

Project: Songs from the Hole (Impact Campaign)

Terrance Graham

Terrance Graham is a storyteller and youth justice advocate whose life reshaped U.S. constitutional law. As the central figure in the landmark Supreme Court case Graham v. Florida (2010), his fight against a life-without-parole sentence for a non-homicide offense as a teenager established a national precedent recognizing that children deserve the chance for redemption. Raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Terrance spent nearly two decades incarcerated, during which he cultivated a deep commitment to creative expression, mentorship, and systemic change. Since his release in 2024, he has dedicated his life to using film, media, and public storytelling to illuminate the humanity of young people entangled in the justice system and to challenge narratives that criminalize youth of color.

Project: “The Prison Outside”

Logline: Personal documentary about Terrance incarcerated. Landmark decision overturning LWOP.

Edmond Richardson

Edmond Richardson is a filmmaker, media-producer, and advocate whose creative journey began inside California’s prison system where he helped build and lead the in-prison production team ForwardThis at San Quentin State Prison. He co-hosted the award-winning podcast UnCuffed, documenting the lives of incarcerated men and bringing their voices to the airwaves. He also served in the wildland firefighting program, gaining hands-on vocational experience and service leadership. Released after fourteen years, Edmond now harnesses his lived experience, technical media skills, and storytelling passion to uplift system-impacted creators, shift narrative power, and build community through film, sound, and service.

Project: “The Way We Are Born”

Logline: “The Way We Were Born” is a character-driven documentary exploring how our beginnings shape who we become. Told through the intertwined journeys of filmmaker Edmond’s return home after 14 years of incarceration and his wife Avelina’s decolonized approach to childbirth, the film reframes birth as ceremony, resistance, and renewal. As they prepare to welcome their first child, their story becomes a meditation on freedom, legacy, and love — and on how reclaiming the way we are born can illuminate the path toward justice and healing.

Raheem Ballard

Raheem Ballard is a filmmaker and justice-impact storyteller who, after 22 years in California prison, directed the documentary short Dying Alone (2024), a poignant exploration of terminal illness and compassionate release behind bars. His film premiered and won the documentary-short prize at the first-ever San Quentin Film Festival inside a U.S. prison. On the same day his film premiered, he was granted parole — underscoring his personal journey of renewal. Raheem now channels his lived experience into film and advocacy, using narrative to elevate voices often silenced and to reshape how society sees redemption, freedom and creative power.

Project: “Minnie’s Cry”

Logline: Minnie’s Cry is a narrative short about an aging white civil rights activist nearing death. With little time left, she shares her deepest trauma and thoughts about the events that shape her life. Unbeknownst to her and interviewer (Marcus Hooks), the two lives collide on a path that offers redemption and healing for past and future generations.

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