CCWF delights in a taste of Hollywood

 Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) residents enjoyed a one-of-a-kind festival on March 28, 2026. 

Called SQFF Presents @ CCWF, the event was a condensed version of the film festival held at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Approximately 170 residents and 180 outside guests attended. 

The festival was a collaboration by the San Quentin Film Festival team, CCWF Paper Trail, and Pollen Initiative, a nonprofit that supports prison media centers across the U.S., including CCWF Paper Trail. 

The event represented a first for the facility and the hosts. Prior to the festival, CCWF had never hosted an event of this magnitude. “This was our first time leaving San Quentin,” said Cori Thomas, cofounder of the San Quentin Film Festival. 

To create an atmosphere similar to outside film festivals, the hosts transformed the gym and main yard. 

Outside, a red carpet greeted guests as they arrived. The carpet led to an event backdrop where guests posed for pictures just like any Hollywood premiere seen on television. 

Inside, floor-to-ceiling black curtains hung on the walls and behind a large projection screen and stage. Rows of cushioned chairs filled the room. Split down the center aisle was a plush red carpet. 

The festival began when CCWF’s Voices of Unity Community Choir stepped on stage and performed “Shackles.” The crowd got to their feet and clapped along. 

CCWF Paper Trail’s Art & Layout Designer Nora Igova hosted the morning program, which highlighted short films by currently and formerly incarcerated filmmakers. Documentarian W. Kamau Bell moderated a panel with the featured filmmakers. CCWF Paper Trail hosts presented special awards to Retired Chief Deputy Warden Velda Dobson-Davis and Warden Anissa De La Cruz. 

At noon, lunch was served and participants mingled while the quintet Project: Music Heals Us performed. 

CCWF Paper Trail’s Editor-In-Chief Amber Bray hosted the afternoon portion of the program with awards presented to the winners of the best narrative and best documentary pitch competition. The winners were chosen from dozens of submissions from CCWF and California Institution for Women (CIW). Krysten Webber won the best narrative pitch and Diana Lovejoy won the best documentary pitch. Semi-finalists in the two categories were Kaylee Weisenberg, Jasmine Ballesteros, Rebecca Grossman, Mimi Le, Elizabeth Dahl, Holly Davidson, Saabira Abul An-Noor, Sagal Sadiq, Sara Gomez, Haily Rangel, Adanna Ibe, and Dayshawna Lawrence. 

The pitch competition was a rare opportunity for the residents of CCWF and CIW to highlight their artistic ability through transformative means. An industry jury determined the finalists and winners. 

In the afternoon, CCWF staff writer LaKisa Crowder moderated the “Women in Film” panel, which highlighted the experiences of five women who write, direct, and produce films. 

Dinner was served and the day concluded with a movie entitled “Eternity,” released in November of 2025. 

“It was a perfect way to end the night with a romantic comedy that brought us together with shared tears,” said CCWF Resident Krystal Paredes. 

“Every hope was fulfilled and we are so excited to experience the harvest of untold stories that have been waiting for an audience,” said Thomas. 

For the twelve hours of the festival, outside guests, volunteers, film industry members, and CCWF residents all sat together. 

In the room, there was no division: just an audience sitting in a theater.