Songs of Redemption (2013)
Trailer
Logline
'Songs of Redemption' captures the moving story of redemption and rehabilitation of inmates of the General Penitentiary in Kingston, Jamaica.
Synopsis
Songs of Redemption reveals a stream of consciousness as told by Kingston prisoners incarcerated for crimes ranging from ‘illegal possession of firearm’ to ‘murder.’ The prison, once a concrete holding area for African slaves, is devoid of basic human necessities and reflects a reality of unimaginable consequence. The movie opens with a glimpse of city dogs living free in the streets with no means of support, while human counterparts behind the walls are imprisoned with the same lack of support, compounded by total loss of personal freedom.
Interviews by inmates reveal sincere regret for the actions that led to a life of incarceration. The critical turning point is ignited through a growing a sense of self pride and identity, a channel to musically express remorse and the ability to warn the next youth from destructive behavior. The simplicity and complexity of freedom is captured throughout the film as birds fly in and out of the prison grounds only to fly freely away into the blue sky. As one inmate clearly states, redemption comes when the criminal moves from a very dark hopeless place into the light, the light of life and forgiveness.~ Sista Irie, Austin, Texas
Details
Feature (79mins) Documentary | Jamaica, Spain
Language: English
Production
Writers: Amanda Sans Pantling
Directors: Amanda Sans Pantling
| Miquel Galofre
Awards
- Best Documentary Music Film en el Krakow Film Festival
- Best Feature Award Pan African Film & Arts Festival 2013 Los Angeles
- Best Documentary Caribbean Tales Toronto Film Showcase
- Best Feature Documentary Film Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival
- People’s Choice Award Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival
- Best Documentary en el World Film Festival
- Public Award CineDoc Tbilisi Film Festival
- Mención Especial del Jurado Festival Internacional de Cine de Barranquilla
- Public Award TwoRiversides Film Festival
- Impact Award (In) Justice for all Film Festival
Festival Screenings
NOMINATIONS AND OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
- London East End Film Festival
- Hong Kong PUFF Film Festival
- Aruba International Film Festival, DocsDF Film Festival
- La Habana Film Festival
- Sidney Latino Film Festival
- Guadalajara Film Festival
- The Americas Film Festival New York
- Respect Belfast Human Rights Film Festival
- Norient Musikfilm Festival
- Timehri Film Festival
- Spotlight Caribbean MIST/Madiba Harlem Film Festival