Past Film/Video | Contemporary Screen

Sing Sing

(Greg Kwedar, 2023) 

Introduced by poets Ajanaé Dawkins and Michael “Blakk Sun” Powell

Ohio Premiere

Two Black men sit in a large room, in the foreground wears a purple hoodie.

See the latest from A24 before its full theatrical release! A poignant—and true—story of the power of theater to rehabilitate men incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility.

Oscar nominee Colman Domingo (Rustin, The Color Purple, Zola) gives the most powerful performance of his career as John “Divine G” Whitfield, an incarcerated man who acts in a theater program to give a purpose to his time in prison. The film tracks the shifting dynamics of the theater troupe when newcomer Divine Eye suggests the company put on a comedy instead of their usual dramas. Inspired by the actual Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, the film features a dynamic, charming, and mischievous cast made up almost entirely of RTA alumni.

There have been many films that make visible the work of prison arts programs before but few with the emotional power, tenderness, and devotion to the artistic process as Sing Sing. The adventurous team at A24 is releasing the film later in July but this is your chance to attend a preview screening of the 2024 SXSW Audience Award winner, featuring music by the Cincinnati native Bryce Dessner, from the indie-rock band the National and a contributor to the Golden Globe–nominated score for The Revenant. (107 mins., DCP)

The evening will begin with readings of new, Wex-commissioned poems, written in response to the film by Ajanaé Dawkins, Urban Art Space’s 2024 community artist-in residence, and Michael “Blakk Sun” Powell, director of creative and youth programming at Healing Broken Circles and a musician, poet, actor, writer, and speaker.

IMAGE CAPTION
Sing Sing, courtesy of A24.

Know Before You Go

  • To help ensure a full house for the filmmakers and our screening partner, a surplus of tickets will be distributed for this free event. All screening passes are first come, first served. Seating is not guaranteed. 
  • Don’t forget to leave adequate time for parking. Vouchers for $2 parking are available to film attendees at the ticket desk.

Special thanks to Urban Arts Space, Dr. Terron Banner, Black Future Month Columbus, and Irrepressible Soul for collaborative support.

FILM/VIDEO PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY 
National Endowment for the Arts 
Ohio Humanities

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY 
Rohauer Collection Foundation

WEXNER CENTER PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY 
Ohio Department of Development

Greater Columbus Arts Council

The Wexner Family 
Institute of Museum and Library Services

Ohio Arts Council, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts 
CampusParc 
Ohio State’s Global Arts + Humanities Discovery Theme 
The Columbus Foundation 
Axium Packaging 
Nationwide Foundation 
Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY 
Mike and Paige Crane 
Nancy Kramer 
Ohio State Energy Partners 
Ohio History Fund/Ohio History Connection 
Larry and Donna James 
David Crane and Elizabeth Dang 
Bruce and Joy Soll 
Rebecca Perry Damsen and Ben Towle 
Jones Day 
Alex and Renée Shumate

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Past Film/Video

Sing Sing