2016 HOT DOCS: HOW TO PREPARE FOR PRISON

“Prison should be for people we’re scared of, not people we’re mad at.” 

                                                                           Benny Napoleon –
Sheriff, Detroit, Michigan

Fuelled by fear, regret, defiance and redemption, How To Prepare For Prison follows the story of three people facing prison for the first time, directed and shot by Matt Gallagher. Shot over three years, the feature goes behind the scenes and into the offices of lawyers and judges - and into the private homes of ordinary citizens caught in the crosshairs of the law.

By exploring fundamental questions of fairness and justice, the film challenges simplistic notions of crime and punishment. It forces us to consider the purpose of incarceration – are we seeking justice or deterrents or revenge?

“How To Prepare For Prison is a documentary which is a culmination of my fascination with prison life, an approach to filmmaking which seems uniquely suited to this story, and as it happens, an issue which is timely and relevant to our current social-political climate,” says Gallagher.”

Shot and Directed by Matt Gallagher, Produced by Cornelia Principe & Matt Gallagher, Edited by Nick Hector, Commissioning Editor TVO Jane Jankovic, Music Composed & Performed by Justin Small & Ohad Benchetrit. Produced in Association with TVO, ichannel, Rogers Documentary Fund, With the Participation of the CMF, with the assistance of The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, The Ontario Film Development Corporation Tax Credit Program and Rogers Telefund.

For media information - please contact
Planet3 Communications Ltd. – Joanne Smale
M: 416-554-2637, T: 289-296-6223 E: info@planet3com.net