2023
Feature Documentary(Philadelphia Premiere)

What These Walls Won’t Hold

CC
Closed captions online
Play Trailer

Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Adamu Chan’s powerful documentary What These Walls Won’t Hold shines a light on the transformative power of love and solidarity amidst adversity at San Quentin State Prison.

Directors Spotlight

A photograph shows a portrait of Adamu Chan.

Adamu Chan

Director

Adamu Chan is a filmmaker, writer, and community organizer from the Bay Area who was incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison during one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in the country. He produced numerous short films while incarcerated, using his vantage point and experience as an incarcerated person as a lens to focus the viewer’s gaze on issues related to social justice. Adamu draws inspiration and energy from the voices of those directly impacted, and seeks to empower them to reshape the narratives that have been created about them through film.

Year
2022
Runtime
43 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Director
Adamu Chan
Cast
Adamu Chan, Isabella Borgeson, Lonnie Morris, Rahsaan Thomas
Cinematographer
Adamu Chan
Co Producer
Lonnie Morris, Rahsaan Thomas, Thanh Tran, Edmond Richardson
Editor
Yeon Park
Executive Producer
Pete Nicks
Music
Samora Pinderhughes, Eric Abercrombie
Producer
Christian Lee Collins
Sound Design
Pat Mesiti-Miller
Premiere
Philadelphia

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