Every screening. Every conversation. Every step foward.
See how Redemption Time is inspiring communities and creating change
Communities
Screenings
OF CONVERSATIONS
stories that connect us
A look back at past screenings and the impact we’ve created together
Audiences from around the world came together for two special livestream presentations of Redemption Time, creating a shared experience that reached far beyond a single location.
The event featured poet Jimmy Santiago Baca and jazz violinist Christian Howes, whose moving combination of poetry, music, and personal storytelling invited viewers into a powerful conversation about transformation, resilience, and the redemptive power of art.
Held in two separate sessions to accommodate audiences across different time zones, the livestream connected people through a deeply personal and inspiring experience, demonstrating how Redemption Time continues to build meaningful connections across communities worldwide.
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How a jazz concert at The Outpost set in motion an unlikely creative collaboration
When jazz violinist Christian Howes was serving time in prison, he found inspiration in the words of a poet he had never met.
Decades later, that poet—New Mexican Jimmy Santiago Baca—joined Howes in person at a screening of Redemption Time at Nob Hill’s Guild Cinema in May. The film tells the story of how the two formerly incarcerated men transformed their lives through art, redemption and resilience.
Directed by David Gonzales, Redemption Time blends performance, photography and memoir to explore the parallel journeys of Baca and Howes.
by Jennifer Moglia Lucil
Press
Press
Film made space for stories & voices of New Mexico via Poetry, testimony, music, & community conversation…
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People came out for Redemption Time in ABQ and it was a vibe.
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Redemption Time was presented at California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC), bringing its message of hope, resilience, and transformation directly to an audience within the correctional system.
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The Past Screening at Middle Church, New York, was a reflective gathering that brought together audience and artists in an intimate setting. The event revisited key moments through film, creating space for dialogue, memory, and shared experience within a historic and meaningful venue.
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The Redemption Time journey continued in Asheville, North Carolina, with a community screening at Trinity United Methodist Church.
The event brought together audience members for an evening of reflection, connection, and meaningful conversation inspired by the film. Through the powerful blend of storytelling, poetry, and music, Redemption Time invited attendees to explore themes of resilience, healing, and the transformative power of art.
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On April 15, Redemption Time was presented at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, bringing students, faculty, and community members together for a meaningful screening and conversation.
The event explored the film’s central themes of redemption, resilience, and the healing power of art. Through the compelling combination of poetry, music, and personal storytelling, audiences were invited to reflect on the role of creativity in overcoming adversity and building human connection.
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Screenings and facilitated discussions inside the jail for incarcerated residents, alongside correctional officers, select community leaders, and college students: February 12, 13, and March 12, 13.
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On March 1, Redemption Time was screened at the Coachella Public Library in Coachella, California, welcoming members of the local community for an inspiring evening centered on the power of storytelling and artistic expression.
The screening invited audiences to reflect on themes of redemption, resilience, and hope through the unique combination of poetry, music, and personal narrative. Following the presentation, attendees shared conversations and perspectives that reinforced the film’s mission of building connection through art.
The Coachella event marked another meaningful stop in the Redemption Time journey, continuing to bring the film’s message to communities across the country.
Screening
Our event included a short set of live poetry and music by Theatre For Transformation, followed by the film screening, followed by a panel discussion with RT lead/subject Christian Howes and a formerly incarcerated representative from the Lancaster Bail Fund. Other participating partners included Franklin and Marshall College Humanities, Music for Everyone, and Mental Health America of Lancaster. The UU, Shining Light, and other local organizations showed support as well. Barry Kornhauser from the Ware Performing Arts Center attended and proposed a larger event at the PAC in October, 2026.
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120 people attended our public screening at the historic Rosendale Theater. Partner organizations included the Bard Prison Initiative, The Restorative Justice Center, Bars Beyond Bars, and Family of Woodstock. The audience stayed to engage in reflections with our panelists following the screening. See the full panel here.
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We hosted a private screening for 15 formerly incarcerated individuals currently residing at Soteria House- a transitional housing for prisoners reentering society. Following the screening we engaged in conversation. The founder and executive director Jerry Blassingame said that the reason he wanted to show the film to the residents was “to help them by making it easier for them to share their own stories in better ways”.
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The Redemption Time team worked with the organizers at Christmount to produce a screening, musical performance, and conversation with an interfaith group, including many ministers around the theme: “Companions on the Journey”, exploring the truth that no matter our differences, we are companions on the journey toward authentic communion with God & neighbor.
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Redemption Time collaborated with Whitehorse Black Mountain to offer a screening as part of a double-bill live-music and film show at a music festival.
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For five days, we workshopped, rehearsed, and performed for a live audience. This live performance served as the basis for the film. We spent the next year editing the film- a total of eleven editions. We also gave educational workshops in Greenville for students at the SC Governor’s School of the Arts.
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The Redemption Time team presented an early iteration of the film as a live stage production to a live audience. We were joined by local musicians, including Lovell Bradford, who later joined on piano in the final performance.
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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.
