Incarcerated Filmmakers are Festival Winners

FOX13 Utah recently ran coverage of one of our Audience Choice award winners this year Breaking Chains in which it featured the story behind the making of the documentary. Check out the interview HERE

Breaking Chains screened inside the Utah State Prison for the very people who made it. And that’s what makes this story hit a little harder.

This production was created by incarcerated individuals who decided they weren’t done writing their story yet.

And that’s the kind of filmmaking that deserves attention.

This Is What Independent Film Was Always Meant to Be

When we talk about independent film, we throw that term around a lot. Low budget. Small crews. Passion projects.

Breaking Chains strips it down to show it can also be transformative.

Zach Martindale, one of the producers, said it best:

If people can change for the negative, they can change for the positive.

What stood out to me isn’t just that they made a film—it’s how they made it.

They had to get approval from prison officials instead of studio executives. They had to build a team from within. They had to learn, adapt, and create with whatever resources they could get their hands on.

Why Films Like Breaking Chains Matter to a Festival Like Ours

At the Utah International Film Festival, we’re not just looking for polished films.

We’re looking for perspective.

Breaking Chains won the People’s Choice Award at our festival. Audiences connect with authenticity. They can feel when a story is real, when it’s not trying to impress them but instead trying to say something meaningful.

This film represents change.

And that’s the kind of story we want to champion.

Because film festivals shouldn’t just be about showcasing what’s trending. They should be about discovering voices that don’t always have access to the traditional system.

Here’s the thing that sticks with me the most…

These filmmakers couldn’t attend their own screenings.

Think about that for a second.

Their work is out in the world. It’s winning awards. It’s connecting with audiences. And they’re experiencing that impact from inside prison walls.

So when the Utah Department of Corrections arranged a screening for them, it was validation.

It was proof that what they created mattered.

That might be more powerful than any red carpet moment.

What Happens Next?

The film is finished. The awards are stacking up.

But the real story is what happens when these filmmakers walk out.

Brian Davis talked about leaving prison with skills that actually translate to the real world.

This is about giving people a path forward.

Zach Martindale mentioned wanting to build a legacy where people aren’t limited to the same opportunities that typically exist after incarceration.

And now thats a real possibility.

At the end of the day, film has always been about connection.

Breaking Chains connects because it’s honest. It connects because it reminds us that storytelling isn’t reserved for a select few—it belongs to anyone willing to do the work.

That’s why we’ll keep programming films like this.

Because sometimes the most important stories aren’t coming from the outside looking in.

They’re coming from the inside, trying to break out.