On March 28, the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla hosted a groundbreaking film festival in partnership with the San Quentin Film Festival. The first-ever film festival celebrated the work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated filmmakers inside a women’s correctional facility.
The event featured screenings of award-winning short films from the 2025 San Quentin Film Festival, followed by a filmmaker panel moderated by comedian and television host W. Kamau Bell. Awards were presented for a Narrative and Documentary Pitch Competition, open exclusively to incarcerated women at CCWF and the California Institution for Women.
“The San Quentin Film Festival at Central California Women’s Facility offers incarcerated participants a powerful platform for self-expression and storytelling, and valuable exposure to the film industry and potential career pathways,” commented CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber.
The event also included a “Women in Film” panel and Q&A, providing incarcerated women insight into the entertainment industry and an opportunity to interact with working professionals in the industry.
The Club congratulates the winners, and especially celebrates the staff members at the Central California Women’s Facility and the San Quentin Film Festival for their hard work in producing such a positive event.