This September, the Returning Artists Guild (RAG) had the honor of serving as a community partner for the Inthrive Film Festival, a national event celebrating the creativity and resilience of artists who have survived incarceration. The festival features films made by directly impacted artists from across the country—stories that challenge stereotypes, amplify truth, and show the transformative power of art behind and beyond the walls.
When Inthrive came to Columbus, Ohio, it was more than just a screening—it was a homecoming. Our co-founders, Kamisha Thomas and Aimee Wissman, were invited to speak on a powerful panel about the importance of art while incarcerated. The conversation explored how creativity sustains the human spirit in confinement, how it opens pathways to healing, and how communities like RAG continue that journey of liberation through art-making, mentorship, and mutual support after release.
RAG also served as the local community engagement partner, gathering feedback from audience members about their experience with the films and conversations. The responses reflected deep emotion—viewers spoke about being moved, challenged, and inspired by the honesty and artistry of system-impacted filmmakers.
Following the Columbus stop, Inthrive traveled to Richmond, Virginia for the official opening of its third season. Kamisha’s film, Silence is Consent: The Indictment, was among the featured works, continuing to reach new audiences and spark vital dialogue about justice, voice, and visibility.
As a peer-led organization dedicated to ending mass incarceration through art, RAG is proud to see our community represented in spaces that have traditionally excluded us. The Inthrive Film Festival is proof that when formerly incarcerated artists tell our own stories, the narrative shifts—from punishment to possibility, from silence to power.
We are deeply grateful to the Inthrive team for their vision and partnership, and to everyone who showed up to witness, listen, and share. Our artists deserve to be seen—and we’re just getting started.
🎥 Watch Kamisha and Aimee’s full panel clip below: