SQFF24

Awards Categories

SQFF is unique in that our award winners are chosen by both our Inside Jury—composed of incarcerated filmmakers—and our Industry Jury.

Our special awards honor individuals and works that make a lasting impact and celebrate the transformative power of film.

  • BEST FEATURE

    • Films exploring the prison/incarcerated experience.

    • Open to all filmmakers

  • BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

    • Submissions limited to system impacted filmmakers

    BEST NARRATIVE SHORT

    • Submissions limited to system impacted filmmakers

    BEST DOCUMENTARY & NARRATIVE PITCH

    • Submissions limited to currently incarcerated writers

  • ELLIOT THE G.O.A.T. • IMPACT & INNOVATION AWARD

    THE BRUCE SINOFSKY CHANGEMAKER AWARD

INDUSTRY JURY

  • Len Amato

  • Elegance Bratton

  • Sam Catlin

  • Billy Crudup

  • Taylor Hackford

  • Piper Kerman

  • Greg Kwedar

  • Kathy Najimi

  • Lynn Novick

  • Lawrence O'Donnell

  • Mary-Louise Parker

  • Paul Rogers

  • J.T. Rogers

  • Jane Rosenthal

  • Jeff Stanzler

  • Joe Talbot

  • Rick Telles

  • Monique Walton

  • Jeffrey Wright

INSIDE JURY

  • Oscar Acosta

  • Jason Jenkins

  • Jay Kim

  • Harold Meeks

  • Kevin Sawyer

  • Tony De Trinidad

  • Vincent Turner, Jr

OUR TEAM

  • Cori Thomas

    Founder & Director

  • Rahsaan "New York" Thomas

    Founder & Director

  • Brian Asey Gonsoulin

    Producer

  • Katherine Moore

    Producer

  • Capt. (R) Sam Robinson

    CDCR Consultant

  • Will Baker

    Technical Director

  • Lonnie Morris

    SQ Liaison

  • Skyler Brown

    SQFF Media Center Coordinator

  • Harold Meeks

    Inside Producer

  • Kevin D. Sawyer

    Inside Producer

  • Salvador Joaquin

    Brand & Logo Designer

  • Juan Moreno Haines

    Festival Venue Coordinator