

BEST DOCUMENTARY - Chain NYC Film Festival | Screened at 9+ Film Festivals
Mass Incarceration • Prison Labor Exploitation • Justice Involved Youth • California's Juvenile Justice System • Prison Reform & Social Justice • Rehabilitation & Redemption
Date of Completion: 2021 | Run Time: 83 minutes | Language: English & Spanish with English subtitles | Captions: Yes | Includes: Transcript | Directors: Drew Dickler & Jake Hochendoner | Producers: Jake Hochendoner, Geoff Pingree & David Sherwin | Editor: Marielle Brinda | Additional Editing: Yari Wolinsky
FIREBOYS is the untold story of young men incarcerated in California who are offered a way out: by fighting wildfires. Immersive and personal, this coming-of-age story is told from the perspectives of young men as they summon the courage to fight fires and confront their pasts.
Alex Bailon, 18, whom we meet in prison, and Chuy Hernandez, 20, who is about to be released after serving his sentence, have both enrolled as volunteer firefighters for the California Department of Corrections and Cal Fire’s conservation “fire” camp program. Among the 43 camps across the state, Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp alone is staffed exclusively by juveniles -- young people under the age of 21.
Following these young men from prison, fighting wildfires in the forests of California, and finally, back to their homes on the outside, Fireboys examines a correctional path that is both hopeful and destructive; California’s fire camps support Alex and Chuy’s rehabilitation but also exploit their labor to address one of the state’s most urgent environmental problems.
48 Hills | Dennis Harvey
“Screen Grabs: Perilous quests in ‘the Green Knight’ and ‘Stillwater’ Plus: complex Son of Monarchs, redemptive Fireboys, and a beautiful, bummer Casanova”
AIPT | Nathaniel Muir
“‘Fireboys’ review: Powerful documentary about unique inmate program in California”
Bulletproof Action | Chad Cruise
“True Action: Fireboys”
Celebilicious | Jessica Fisher
"Review: FIREBOYS Tells the Story of the Young Incarcerated Men Who Sign on to Fight Wildfires"
Datebook
“'Fireboys' and “Bring Your Own Brigade”’ offer different perspectives on California’s wildfires.”
Eclectic Arts Media | Mark Sugiyama
“FIREBOYS Film Review August 2, 2021 Eclectic Arts”
Film Threat | Chris Salce
“Fireboys”. 8 out of 10.
GeekTyrant | Jessica Fisher
"Review: FIREBOYS Tells the Story of the Young Incarcerated Men Who Sign on to Fight Wildfires"
Lisa Hendey Blog | Lisa Hendey
“Fireboys”
Punch Drunk Critics | Jake Sokolsky
"Review: ‘Fireboys’ - Social Justice Doc Focuses On Californian Incarcerated Youth Fighting Wildfires". 3 out of 5.
Rotund Reviews | Tyler Reguly
“Fireboys”. 3.5 out of 5.
San Francisco Chronicle | Bob Strauss
“Review: ‘Fireboys’ and ‘Bring Your Own Brigade’ offer different perspectives on California wildfires”
Three Angry Nerds | Hosts Kurt, Spark, Adam, and Lee
"Episode 375: The Sweetest Podcast". Review at 1:08:50 mark. 8 out of 10.
The Wasteland Reviewer | Shane Conto
"Fireboys"
AWARDS
BEST DOCUMENTARY | Chain NYC Film Festival
BEST OF FEST | Chain NYC Film Festival
FESTIVALS
Dances With Films
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
International Social Change Film Festival
Napa Valley Film Festival
Heartland International Film Festival
The Santa Clarita International Film Festival
Dallas VideoFest
San Luis Obispo International Film Festival