Community Film Screening: Whispers Beyond Bars

Join us on December 20th at Hyperreal Film Club in Austin for a special community screening of Whispers Beyond Bars, a short narrative film exploring the generational impact of incarceration, motherhood, and the search for healing brought to you by After Violence Project and Lioness Justice Impacted Women's Alliance.

Written and directed by Marci Ray, the film follows a young pregnant woman who discovers a journal written by her incarcerated mother, uncovering long-hidden truths, trauma, and the resilience passed down through generations. Inspired by real stories and lived experience, Whispers Beyond Bars shines a light on the emotional realities often left out of conversations about incarceration, pregnancy, and family separation.

This film was shaped through Marci’s training as a Visions After Violence (VAV) Fellow, a program designed to help storytellers use trauma-informed, healing-centered practices in interviewing, filmmaking, and community engagement. The skills she gained through the VAV fellowship informed every step of this project from gathering oral histories to developing characters rooted in truth, dignity, and complexity.

After the screening, stay for a live Q&A with the filmmaker and guests to discuss the inspirations behind the film, the creative process, and the broader movement for justice for women, mothers, and families impacted by incarceration.

The event is open to the community.
Youth are welcome at parent or guardian discretion; due to emotional intensity and themes of trauma and incarceration, we recommend the film for ages 13+.

Come experience a powerful story, connect with community, and join us in conversation about healing, justice, and liberation.

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Host or Publisher Marci Marie