Exodus and Calls From Home Screening

Join Study and Struggle and Survived and Punished-NY for a joint screening of and , two films highlighting the struggles faced by incarcerated individuals and their families from Central Appalachia to New York. Throughout the screening, we will hear from local and national organizers in solidarity in the campaign to Free The Mississippi Five and in the fight for mass clemency for criminalized survivors in New York State.

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: The Mississippi Five are a group of women who were sentenced to life with the possibility of parole during the “Tough on Crime”-era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. They are now between the ages of 59 and 83 years old. Despite their achievements, personal growth, the loss of loved ones outside, and even recantations of key witnesses, they continue to be denied parole irrespective of their actions. The Mississippi Five have collectively been imprisoned for over 175 years and denied parole 47 times. The campaign fights to Free the Five while exposing the parole board's function, in the words of organizer Pauline Rogers, as "judge, jury, and executioner."

About and: Calls from Home (2023, dir. Sylvia Ryerson) is an "intimate portrait of rural Pr*son expansion" that "documents WMMT-FM’s longstanding radio show that sends messages over the public airwaves to reach those incarcerated in Central Appalachia. For many, the show provides a lifeline to the world outside. Sharing the stories of the family and friends who call in, and those who listen in from Pr*son, the film portrays the many forms of distance that rural Pr*son building creates—and the ceaseless search to end this system of mass incarceration and family separation."

About : EXODUS (2025, dir. Nimco Sheikhaden) is an intimate portrait of two women who face unique challenges following decades of incarceration. The film bears witness to their impassioned attempts to rebuild their lives and ultimately restore their humanity.

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After the film, hear from advocates and organizers on both sides of the walls as they discuss their work to dismantle mass incarceration and bring home their loved ones. 

Panelists include:

• Loretta Pierre of the Mississippi Five
• Assia Serrano 
• Organizers with the Campaign to Free the Mississippi Five
• Organizers with Survived and Punished- NY

Zines and posters will also be available.

Info: Calls from Home + Exodus
Study and Struggle x Survived and Punished- NY
Anthology Film Archives
32 2nd Ave
Lenape Land
Monday, August 11
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
6:00 Soft start
6:10 Welcome
6:15 Loretta to call in and intro Calls from Home
6:30 Screen Calls from Home (31 min)
7:35 Screen Exodus (33 min)
8:10 Assia to call in and segue to panel
8:15 Q&A Talkback
8:30 Thank yous, and clemency petition + fundraising pitch
Please take a moment now to sign the clemency petition if you haven’t already.
8:45 Mingle + Music. MS5 and SPNY organizers available to connect with people in the tabling area
9:00 Out of the space

Host or Publisher Working Films