As the documentary industry confronts its history of extractive practices, where stories have often been told at the expense of the communities involved, the concept of co-creation emerges as a vital corrective. How can filmmaking be decolonized and reimagined to prioritize the well-being, empowerment, and collaboration of its participants? 

In a unique collaborative process with its incarcerated protagonist and writer, James “JJ’88” Jacobs, Songs from the Hole innovates the form and defies genre, while also provoking meaningful discussion on creative collaboration and the ethical engagement of film participants. Director Contessa Gayles shares her process of decolonizing and radicalizing the imagination.