“Redemption Time” is a 70-minute multimedia concert film that weaves together the stories and work of two formerly incarcerated artists: the celebrated poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, and renowned jazz violinist Christian Howes.
After ten years of development, the film is planning for a nationwide launch in 2026. Our team is in conversation with community organizations, educational institutions, and venues to explore screenings in conjunction with multi-layered events to help create social impact in your community.
Learn more about the cast, artists, and our team below, and contact us to start a conversation about how we can collaborate.
Jimmy Santiago Baca taught himself to read and write while incarcerated. He now has a PhD in Literature, has published volumes of poetry, and is the recipient of an NEA Literary Fellowship, a Vogelstein Foundation Award, the Pushcart Prize, the American Book Award for Poetry, and the Hispanic Heritage Award.
Violinist Christian Howes was voted #1 in the Downbeat Critics Poll, named among the top jazz violinists by JazzTimes, and nominated for Violinist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. Howes has served as a cultural ambassador, performing in Ukraine and Montenegro at the invitation of the U.S. State Department.
Director David Gonzalez received his doctorate from NYU where he taught for ten years. His work has been featured at Lincoln Center, on PBS, and on NPR. He has received the International Performing Arts for Youth’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Joseph Campbell Foundation Fellowship, and a Drama Desk Award nomination.
Jimmy Santiago Baca taught himself to read and write while incarcerated. He now has a PhD in Literature, has published volumes of poetry, and is the recipient of an NEA Literary Fellowship, a Vogelstein Foundation Award, the Pushcart Prize, the American Book Award for Poetry, and the Hispanic Heritage Award.
Violinist Christian Howes was voted #1 in the Downbeat Critics Poll, named among the top jazz violinists by JazzTimes, and nominated for Violinist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. Howes has served as a cultural ambassador, performing in Ukraine and Montenegro at the invitation of the U.S. State Department.
Director David Gonzalez received his doctorate from NYU where he taught for ten years. His work has been featured at Lincoln Center, on PBS, and on NPR. He has received the International Performing Arts for Youth’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Joseph Campbell Foundation Fellowship, and a Drama Desk Award nomination.
Lovell Bradford, piano (and drums)
Shannon Hoover, bass
Hamilton Hardin, drums (and saxophone and piano)
Christian Howes, violin (and guitar)
Executive Producer, Dr. Ann Evans
Co-Producers: David Gonzalez and Christian Howes
Associate Producers: Jimmy Santiago Baca and Jonathan E. Stewart
Editor: Aidan Weaver
Impact Production Assistants: Tristan Turner, Josue Cabala
On April 19, 2026, at 4:00 PM, Trinity United Methodist Church will host a special screening event of Redemption Time, a 70-minute performance film featuring poet Jimmy Santiago Baca and Asheville-based jazz violinist Christian Howes — artists whose lives were shaped by incarceration and who now give voice to stories of dignity, struggle, and renewal.
Directed by David Gonzalez, the film blends spoken word poetry, live jazz, and cinematic storytelling into a powerful experience tracing journeys from trauma and incarceration toward healing, belonging, and personal freedom.
The event invites the community to reflect on themes that resonate far beyond the screen — belonging and isolation, judgment and dignity, harm and healing, and the possibility of second chances. Admission is free, with optional donations.
The program will begin with live music and poetry readings, followed by the film screening, a panel discussion, and a closing reception at Deep Time AVL. The reception offers attendees an opportunity to connect and reflect on the film’s themes with neighbors, artists, and community partners.
This event is part of Second Chance Month, a national campaign raising awareness about the impacts of incarceration while encouraging second-chance opportunities and community reintegration.
Community partners include Deep Time AVL, 12 Baskets Café, Asheville Poverty Initiative, the Buncombe County Re-entry Council, the UNCA Prison Education Program, and Trinity United Methodist Church.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
4:00–4:20 PM — Live Music & Poetry
4:20–5:30 PM — Redemption Time Screening
5:30–5:50 PM — Panel Discussion
5:50–6:15 PM — Reception
Location:
Trinity United Methodist Church
587 Haywood Road
Asheville, NC 28806
Film info and trailer:
https://redemptiontimeshow.com/
Redemption Time centers on two artists who emerged from incarceration to become powerful voices for change. The film confronts injustice while lifting up human dignity, creative resilience, and personal healing. Through an intimate blend of artistic forms and storytelling, the work explores universal tensions — belonging and isolation, judgment and dignity, harm and healing — while inviting viewers to look beyond labels and consider what it means to be human, to belong, and to begin again.
“Redemption Time transcends dualities… It’s a profound invitation into the deepest truths of our shared humanity.”
— Dr. Peter Candler, Author
Christian Howes
Producer, Redemption Time
chris@christianhowes.com
(614) 332-8689
Jess Godden
Community Outreach Coordinator
Trinity United Methodist Church
trinitywavl@gmail.com
828-253-5471 ext. 101
Previews of the full film available upon request.