REIMAGINING SAFETY
Film poster for "Reimagining Safety".  Police stand armed amid a Black Lives Matter protest, a woman holds "I Can't Breathe" sign.
REIMAGINING SAFETY
Film poster for "Reimagining Safety".  Police stand armed amid a Black Lives Matter protest, a woman holds "I Can't Breathe" sign.
Ten experts discuss practical alternatives to policing and incarceration following the 2020 murder of George Floyd

REIMAGINING SAFETY

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BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - The Los Angeles Independent Film Festival | "An incredible, transformative resource that we absolutely NEED everyone to see!" - Olayemi Olurin BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - The Lost River Film Festival | "An absolute must-see documentary" - Chuck Modiano

Public Safety • Police brutality • Alternatives to Policing • Restorative, Racial and Social Justice • Communities of Care • History of Policing • Black Lives Matter • Housing and Homelessness • Social Work • Community Responders • Violence Prevention • Abolition • Mental Health Interventions

Date of Completion: 2023 | Run Time: 83 minutes​​ | Language: English with Spanish subtitles | Captions: Yes | Includes: Transcript | Director/Writer: Matthew Solomon | Executive Producers: Donna Hadjikhani & Matthew Solomon | Co-Executive Producer: Neda Hadjikhani |  Consulting Producer: Michelle Silver

Taking as its premise that policing is not the only solution to all of society’s challenges, REIMAGINING SAFETY features wide-ranging, one-on-one interviews with some of the leading voices on the topic, including Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon; University of Southern California Law Professor Dr. Jody Armour; Mount Saint Vincent University Women’s Studies Professor Dr. El Jones, Sociology Professor and author of The End of Policing Alex Vitale; feminist and abolitionist Nikki Blak; and Hawk Newsome, co-founder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, among others. Among the questions posed by the documentary are: is policing really the best answer to problems that occur in many neighborhoods? What can be done to address conflicts that arise from mental health crises? What is the best training or background for those whose job it is to defuse conflicts of various sorts? Shot on iPhone, REIMAGINING SAFETY reimagines the goal of public safety by acknowledging what isn’t working and then offering humane and equitable alternatives.

Rider University | Dr. Reggie Walker, Director of EOP
"Remaining Safety was just the documentary we need in today's climate, as it forced us to confront ourselves with the hard questions around policing and safety in this country." 

Hân Trần, Washington Human Rights Commissioner
"This documentary is not just a film; it's a vital blueprint and a solid primer for a future that prioritizes the humanity and dignity of every individual."

Lander University | Dr. Brian Pitman, Assistant Professor of Criminology
"[Reimagining Safety] amplifies the ramifications of the criminal legal system predicated on racialized violence. Moreover, the film’s explorations of what communities have done to reimagine safety are great primers for students who wonder 'what a world without police look like?'"

California State University, Los Angeles | Khadija Monk, Ph.D.
"Reimagining Safety is essential viewing for faculty and students in criminal justice and the social sciences, especially given our current politically divided and anti-woke climate. The documentary highlights the link between unresolved racial issues in the United States and the development of the criminal justice system, emphasizing that these problems will persist until we engage in an honest conversation about the nation's origins. It shows that as we erase how our nation got to this point, we weaken our ability to develop equitable solutions."

Claremont Lincoln University | Stephanie Varnon-Hughes, PhD, Dean of Teaching, Learning, & Leadership
"Reimagining Safety, as a film and project, serves as a model for both the kind of scholar-practitioner activism possible when linking filmmaking as an art with community-based research and an invitation to galvanize viewers and leaders across the US."

John Jay College of Criminal Justice | Nicole C. McKenna, Ph.D.
Reimagining Safety is a must-watch for college courses focused on criminal justice, community safety, and corrections! [...] This film stands out as different from others because it provides specific practices from multiple points of view that students can immediately engage in to transform their communities. I cannot recommend this film enough!"

University of Washington Tacoma | Eric Madfis, Ph.D., Professor of Criminal Justice
Reimagining Safety is an eye-opening documentary that boldly challenges traditional perspectives on criminal legal systems and introduces viewers to a transformative vision of community safety and accountability. This film delves into the intersections of justice, public safety, and systemic reform, highlighting voices and solutions that are often marginalized in mainstream conversations. Through its nuanced storytelling, it can serve as a vital resource for educators, activists, students, and anyone seeking to better understand how a community- centered approach can reshape our current punishment-oriented systems."

Indiana University Maurer School of Law | Yvette Butler, J.D., Associate Professor of Law
"Reimagining Safety was a powerful addition to our programming. It covered not only the reasons why many are skeptical of carceral interventions, but also offered practical strategies regarding how to divest from traditional policing and prosecution."

Olayemi Olurin, Movement Lawyer and Political Commentator
"An incredible, transformative resource that we absolutely NEED everyone to see!"

The Black Panther Party Washington State | Bunchy Carter, Minister of Defense
"An era-defining documentary [that] will be a part of political education classes for the Panthers!"

Chuck Modiano, Justice Journalist
"An absolute must-see documentary!"

Baz Dreisinger, Founder of the Prison-to-College Pipeline, Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and Founding Executive Director of Incarceration Nations Network
"An indispensable account of a movement that continues to change the face of justice in the US!"

Cal State LA | Elizabeth Velazquez Alvarez, Psy. D., School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics
"The film provides a profound exploration of the complexities of policing and the urgent need for systemic change. It offers a compelling argument that safety is not simply defined by enforcement but through how we come together as communities to listen, understand, and collaborate toward meaningful change."

AWARDS
Best Documentary Feature | The Los Angeles Independent Film Festival 
Best Documentary Feature | The Lost River Film Festival
Best Documentary Feature | Crown Point International Film Festival 
Special Mention Best Documentary | The San Pedro International Film Festival
Best Cinematography | The People's Film Festival
Best Film, Media for a Just Society Award | Evident Change