San Quentin Media Fest

Join us for an unforgettable evening of powerful storytelling from behind and beyond the walls. San Quentin Media Fest features original short films written and produced by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated filmmakers offering a rare, intimate look at love, family, housing, and life after Pr*son. This event is a fundraiser for the San Quentin State Pr*son Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists of Northern California.

Watson Allison by Brian Asey Gonsoulin and Greg Eskridge

After serving 31 years on death row a man reflects on the choices that led him there and the transformation he underwent behind bars. His story is a raw and deeply human journey through guilt, redemption, and the search for meaning in the shadow of death.

Finding Má by Thanh Tran

After 20 years apart, a Vietnamese American family shattered by the foster care and Pr*son systems reunites to heal old wounds and rebuild their family, starting with finding their unhoused mother in the streets of Sacramento

Unhoused and Unseen by Dante D. Jones

Two incarcerated survivors of homelessness tell their stories of struggles, resilience and triumph through the cycle of the unhoused-to-Pr*son pipeline.

Every Second by Antwan "Banks" Williams

Every Second is a poignant short film that delves into the life of Reese, a man who has just been released from Pr*son but finds himself struggling with the reality that he will never be free from his experience of Pr*son.

Uncuffed My Mixtape: Mama Tried by Ryan Pagan

Ryan Pagan at San Quentin on “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard.

Dear Mama by Juan M. Haines

Juan Haines at San Quentin on "Dear Mama" by Tupac Shakur.

Uncuffed My Mixtape: All My Life by Brian Asey Gonsoulin

Brian Asey at San Quentin on "All My Life," by K-Ci & JoJo.

Post-Screening Panel Discussion:

Hear directly from former SPJ Executive Body members and San Quentin’s Media Center’s creator and leaders: Brian Asey Gonsoulin (Chairman), Rahsaan “New York” Thomas (Chairman), Vincent O’Bannon (Chairman), and Greg Eskridge (Sgt. at Arms). Don’t miss this rare gathering of powerful voices and creative visionaries who are changing the narrative around incarceration—from the inside out.

Featured Guests

Vincent O’Bannon, former Chairman of the Northern Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) at San Quentin, proudly represented print, audio, video, and podcast journalism. This fulfilling role allowed him to engage with professional developers, gaining valuable insights that enriched his understanding of the field and fueled his passion for photography, enhancing his technical skills and creative perspective.

Brian Asey Gonsoulin, Associate Director and Co-Producer of the inaugural San Quentin Film Festival, previously led the San Quentin Media Center team, directing and curating groundbreaking Ted Talks called SQ TEDx. Over a decade, he developed and produced film and TV projects at San Quentin, including the award-winning documentary short, Friendly Signs, written and directed by Rahsaan “New York” Thomas.

Rahsaan “New York” Thomas, incarcerated, discovered his voice remained free. He published over 50 stories across platforms like, Business Insider, Slate, and Apogee Journal through Empowerment Avenue, an organization he co-founded with Emily Nonko. He also spearheaded a campaign restoring voting rights to parolees in California. After appearing in United Shades of America, he developed a passion for filmmaking, directing, the 2024 Superfest Advocacy Award winner. He produced and starred in. Paroled after 22 years, he’s the executive director of Empowerment Avenue, supporting incarcerated writers and artists’ careers and living wages. He co-directs films with incarcerated creators and co-founded the San Quentin Film Festival, the first inside a state Pr*son. Known as “New York” on the Pulitzer Prize finalist and Dupont Award-winning podcast,, he’s also an Emerson Collective Community of Champions fellow, Right of Return USA fellow, and Soros Equality Fellow.

Greg Eskridge, Associate Program Director and founding member of the Uncuffed radio program and podcast, fostered professionalism and dedication in San Quentin for over a decade, leading to great content and awards. Released on July 23, 2024, after 30 years, he was welcomed by family, friends, and KALW team members. Greg continues to elevate the voices of system-impacted individuals.

Dante D. Jones was recently released from San Quentin after serving 17 years of a 39-to-life sentence. He was granted freedom under California’s P.C. 1170(d) resentencing law. During his incarceration, he used journalism, photography, and video storytelling to reshape public perception. As a leader at the award-winning San Quentin News, he created impactful articles and films, including the documentary Unhoused and Unseen, a top finalist in the San Quentin Film Festival and shown at Tribeca. He also organized transformative events inside the Pr*son, fostering dialogue and building solutions around systemic issues. Now free, Dante amplifies the voices of incarcerated/formerly incarcerated people through media and advocacy.

Antwan “Banks” Williams is a multifaceted artist and educator working across music production, audio engineering, podcasting, film, and photography. As co-creator of the award-winning podcast Ear Hustle and composer for the acclaimed film 26.2 to Life, he uses storytelling to amplify the voices of the incarcerated. A former teaching artist at The Branson School (2021–2023) and current community specialist and mentor, Antwan brings lived experience, creativity, and social justice advocacy into classrooms and communities. His work has been showcased at the University of San Francisco, and he continues to lead as a DEI facilitator and champion for equity, expression, and empowerment.

Ryan C. Pagan is a storyteller and multimedia producer raised in Riverside, California. He is currently the Program Lead of Forward This Productions at San Quentin State Pr*son where he is incarcerated. Ryan believes in changing society's perceptions of incarcerated people, and works to provide opportunities to at-risk youth.

Juan Moreno Haines is a journalist incarcerated at San Quentin State Pr*son; he has served as a senior editor at the award-winning San Quentin News; and is currently a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, where he was awarded its Silver Heart Award in 2017 for being “a voice for the voiceless.” Haines’s work has appeared in Solitary Watch, The Guardian, The Appeal, Hastings Race and Poverty Law Journal, Above the Law, UCLA Law Review, Life of the Law, The Oakland Post, California Pr*son Focus, LA Progressive, CalMatters, Witness LA, and Street Spirit.

Your RSVP includes admission to Open Decks: Community Art in Motion, a collaborative art exhibition and cultural program featuring original art by 100 Bay Area artists on skateboard decks. Open Decks is on view from July 24 - September 19, 2025.

Please become a KALW member today and receive your first drink on us at all 220 Montgomery events.

📍 220 Montgomery St., San Francisco, 2 blocks from BART/MUNI

🚪 Doors open at 6:00

🗣️ Program begins at 7:00

🍷 Refreshments for donation (and KALW members get their first one on the house)

🆓 The event is free with an RSVP — and you are welcome to donate what you want.

Ticket donations made for this event on Eventbrite support KALW. Donations for the San Quentin chapter of SPJ Norcal will be invited at the event.

Please note:

• The event space is just to the left of the main entrance to the Mills Building at 220 Montgomery Street
• We recommend taking BART/MUNI, exiting at Montgomery, and walking two blocks north
• Ride-shares can drop off and pick up directly in front of the venue
• If you drive, there are several garages within two blocks of the event location

Host or Publisher KALW Public Media