SCREENINGS
OFFICIAL selection IN 40 festivals In 31 states and 3 countries.
RELEASED THEATRICALLY
IN 30+ CITIES NATIONWIDE
THEATRICAL SCREENINGS
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA
THE FIRST STEP will screen in Martinsburg, West Virginia on Thursday, June 8 at the Apollo Civic Theater (128 E Martin St, Martinsburg, WV 25401) featuring a post-screening discussion with the filmmakers and community leaders.
The screening will feature a live in-person post-screening discussion with special guests Douglas Copenhaver (protagonist in the film, former Berkeley County Council President), and Kevin Knowles (Mayor of Martinsburg), Nathan Harmon (Sheriff of Berkeley County), Tim Czaja (Berkeley County Community Corrections). Filmmakers Brandon Kramer & Lance Kramer will also be present.
The screening will be a joint fundraiser to directly benefit people in Berkeley County who have been affected by substance abuse and who are participating in treatment and recovery programs. Checks can be made out to Plugg’d Inc. Donations will directly benefit participants of the Berkeley County Adult Drug Court Program and participants of Plugg’d, Inc., which is a local nonprofit with the mission of providing re-entry support and peer coaching to individuals who have been impacted by substance abuse.
To purchase tickets, visit the Apollo Civic Theater website.
Reston Community Center
THE FIRST STEP will screen as part of the Equity Matters programming which includes films, authors, performances and Keynote addresses.
To Register for this event, click HERE.
Chicago Heights, IL
Presented by G.O.D. (Giving Others Dreams)
Speakers:
Marlon Chamberlain - Fully Free campaign
Nicole Davis - Talk to me Foundation.org
Willie Davis - WE - With Everyone
Moderator: Celia Colón - Giving Others Dreams
TALLAHASSEE, FL
Presented by Society First & Florida A&M University
Speakers:
Lance Kramer, Meridian Hill Pictures producer
Bobby Powell, Florida Senator
Neil Volz, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, Deputy Director
Nina White-Hodge, Society First, CEO
Mark Schlakman, International Human Rights Attorney
Katie Bohnett, Alliance for Safety & Justice
Marquis McKenzie, FRRC, Organizing Director
Patricia B. McCray, Butterfly Life Journeys, CEO
Special introduction by former Senator Jeff Brandes
AURORA, IL
Presented by Challenge II Change
Speakers:
Javier Reyes - Challenge II Change
Lance Kramer - Producer
Chicago, IL
Presented by G.O.D. (Giving Others Dreams)
Featuring special performances by
Bella BAHHS - Raptivist & Cultural Organizer
King Musa - Rap Artivist
MUNCIE, IN
Get your tickets HERE.
Presented by THE FACING PROJECT.
Speakers:
JEFF HANSARD (Chief Probation Officer, Delaware County Probation)
WATASHA BARNES GRIFFIN (CEO, YWCA of Central Indiana)
RYAN P. BROWN, MD, FAAFP, FASAM (Medical Director of Addiction Services, IUH East Central Region)
KELLIE ARROWOOD (Community Member)
NEIL KRING (Pastor; Team leader for the Muncie Harm-Reduction)
CORY MATTERS, LSW, CAPRC-I (Social Worker & Certified Addiction Peer Recovery Coach)
JEAN MARIE PLACE, MSW, MPH, PhD (Director of Community Research for the Addictions Coalition of Delaware County)
RO SELVEY (Muncie City Council)
JEFF STANLEY (Chief Deputy, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office)
Moderator: J.R. JAMISON (Founder & Director, The Facing Project)
Bloomington, IL
Presented by G.O.D. (Giving Others Dreams)
Speakers:
Vera Traver - YWCA Labyrinth Transitional Living as Program Coordinator
Toy Beasley - Mclean County Reentry Council
Heather Canuel - Art from the Heart
Moderator: Celia Colón - Giving Others Dreams
Wilmette, IL
Grab your tickets HERE
Presented by G.O.D. (Giving Others Dreams):
Screening & Panel on 3/11 at 7pm; Screening on 3/12 at 5pm
Speakers:
Chris Miner, MSW - Community Outreach, Win-Recovery
Marlon Chamberlain - Founder, Fully Free campaign
Celia Colón - Founder, Giving Others Dreams (G.O.D Inc)
Lansing, MI
Get Tickets HERE:
Presented by SAFE & JUST MICHIGAN.
Speakers:
Joshua B. Hoe (Policy Manager, Dream.Org)
Tony Gant (Policy Director, Nation Outside)
Nashville, TN
Get Tickets HERE.
Presented by DISMAS HOUSE & DESTINY THEATER EXPERIENCE.
Speakers:
Karim Aziz Abdullah (Dismas House Resident)
Terrancé Akins (Activist, Generational Renovator)
Jeremy White (Dismas House Alumni)
Christina Arquette (Executive Producer, The First Step)
Travis Claybrooks (Raphah Institute)
Madison, WI
Presented by THE COMMUNITY & University of Wisconsin-Madison
Speakers:
Jesse James (WI State Senator)
Sam Rogers (WI Public Affairs Director, Americans for Prosperity)
JR Ross (Editor WisPolitics.com)
Dora Drake (State Representative)
Get tickets HERE
Milwaukee, WI
Presented by THE COMMUNITY & MILWAUKEE FILM.
Speakers:
Steven Olikara (Founder, Millennial Action Project)
Evan Goyke (State Representative)
Will Martin (
Executive Vice President, Columbia Savings & Loan Association; 2022 Lt Gov Candidate)
Get tickets HERE.
Ocean City Film Festival
For more information and to purchase a ticket to the festival screening, visit the OCEAN CITY FILM FESTIVAL website.
Paducah, KY
Get tickets HERE.
Speakers:
SHELTON MCELROY (
Dream.Org Organizer)
JIM PETERSON (
Local Organizer)
MARCUS JACKSON
Fayetteville, AR
Get tickets HERE.
Presented by UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK, MAGDALENE SERENITY HOUSE, NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HARM REDUCTION, P.E.A.R.L.
Speakers:
Sophia Dugwyler (Magdalene Serenity House)
Chris Jones (Northwest Arkansas Harm Reduction)
Ashley Lahue (P.E.A.R.L.)
Kenitra Edwards (Clinical Supervisor & Alcohol and Drug Counselor)
Memphis, TN
Get Tickets HERE:
Speakers:
DeAndre Brown Sr. (Executive Director, Shelby County Office of Reentry)
Florence Brooks (Team Member Memphis Allies Formerly Incarcerated)
Keith Dunning (Team Member Memphis Allies Formerly Incarcerated)
Vinessa Brown (Executive Director, LIFEline to Success, Inc.)
Ridgeland, MS
Get tickets HERE.
Presented by PRISON CHAPLAIN MAURICE CLIFTON. Featuring speakers:
Speakers:
Maurice Clifton (Prison Chaplain, Dream.org JUSTICE Empathy Network Leader)
James Jones (President & Director, The Reinvention Center)
Rukia Lumumba (Exec. Director, People’s Advocacy Institute & Co-Director, Electoral Justice of the Movement for Black Lives)
Sara Scott, MA, CMHT, PCAT (Co-Occurring Disorder Specialist, Pine Belt Mental Health Resources)
Los Angeles
Get TICKETS on Laemmle’s Website HERE.
Feb. 24th, 7:40pm — Opening night featuring post-screening discussion with filmmakers Brandon & Lance Kramer
Feb. 25th, 7:40pm— Opening night featuring post-screening discussion with filmmakers Brandon & Lance Kramer
Special Guest Mayor Karen Bass will be present.
Feb. 26th, 4:20pm — Featuring Filmmakers & Film Protagonists
Feb. 28th — Presented by USC DORNSLIFE
Speakers:
Kamy Akhavan (Executive Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future
Brandon Kramer (Director, The First Step)
Lance Kramer (Producer, The First Step)
March 1st — Presented by LA CAN
Pete White (Executive Director, LA CAN)
March 2nd — Presented by CONCERNED CITIZENS OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELESstand out
Noreen McClendon (Executive Director, Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles)
Terrell Tillman (Author of Formula For Success - Reentry 030)
Virgie Walker (President, People Coordinated Services of Southern California)
Tucson, AZ
Get your tickets HERE.
Presented by JUST COMMUNITIES AZ, DREAM.ORG, HEY JOE MEDIA.
Speakers:
Enrique Olivares-Pelayo (Organizer & Doctoral Student (UA), Just Communities AZ)
Joe Watson (Dream.Org Organizer, Hey Joe Media)
Scottsdale, AZ
Get your tickets HERE.
Presented by DREAM.ORG, ACLU SMART JUSTICE AZ, ARIZONIANS FOR TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY IN CORRECTIONS.
Speakers:
Kara Janssen (Smart Justice Campaign Organizer, ACLU Smart Justice AZ)
John Fabricius (Digital Campaigner, Dream.Org & Executive Director, ATAC)
J Hunt-Garcia (Digital Community Organizer, Dream.Org & Legislative Coordinator, ATAC)
Boulder, CO
Presented by: COMMUNITY WORKS, MOTUS THEATER, YOUNIFY, REALNESS PROJECT
Speakers:
Juaquin Mobley (Motus Theater JustUs Project Strategist & VP of Community Works)
Pedro Silva (Director of Engagement, YOUnify)
Get Tickets HERE
Gilbert, AZ
Presented by DREAM.ORG, AWAKE WINDOW & DOOR COMPANY, AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY, AROUET FOUNDATION
Speakers:
Stephen B. Shadegg (State Director, Americans for Prosperity)
Brandy Smith (Program Director, Arouet)
PRIOR FESTIVALS & ADVANCED SCREENINGS
Tribeca Film Festival (WORLD PREMIERE) — New York, NY — June 10, 2021
AFI DOCS — Silver Spring, MD — June 26, 2021
Woods Hole Film Festival — Woods Hole, Mass. — August 1, 2021 (Audience Award)
Bentonville Film Festival — Bentonville, Arkansas — August 3, 2021
Bozeman International Film Festival — Bozeman, Montana — September 13, 2021 (closing night spotlight, Audience Award Winner - Best Documentary)
Mammoth Lakes Film Festival — Mammoth, CA — Sept. 26, 2021 (closing night)
Detroit Free Press “FREEP” Film Festival — Detroit, Michigan — September 26, 2021
Big Eddy Film Festival — Narrowsburg, New York — September 30, 2021
Nashville Film Festival — Nashville, Tennessee — October 2, 2021
Berkeley Springs Film Festival — Berkeley Springs, WV — Oct. 2, 2021 (Best Director)
Chesapeake Film Festival — Virtual Only — October 3-10, 2021
Tucson Film & Music Festival — Tucson, Arizona — October 3, 2021
Dallas International Film Festival — Dallas, Texas — October 8, 2021
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival — Hot Springs, Arkansas — October 10, 2021
Heartland Film Festival — Indianapolis, Indiana — October 15, 2021
Boston Globe “GlobeDocs” Film Festival — Boston, MA — October 16, 2021
Tallgrass Film Festival — Wichita, Kansas — October 22, 2021
Philadelphia International Film Festival — Philadelphia, PA — Oct. 21/29, 2021
United Nations Association Film Festival — Palo Alto, California — October 25, 2021
Central Scotland Documentary Film Festival — Stirling, SCOTLAND — Oct. 31, 2021
Virginia Film Festival — Charlottesville, Virginia — October 31, 2021
St. Louis International Film Festival — St. Louis, Missouri — November 7, 2021
Lone Star Film Festival — Fort Worth, Texas — Nov. 11, 2021
River's Edge International Film Festival — Paducah, Kentucky — November 11, 2021
Denver Film Festival — Denver, Colorado — November 13-14, 2021
Shepherd University — Shepherdstown, West Virginia — November 17, 2021
Lake County Film Festival — Grayslake, Illinois — November 15, 2021
Hawaii International Film Festival – Hawaii — November 4-21, 2021
Big Water Film Festival — Ashland, Wisconsin — January 2022
Oxford Film Festival — Oxford, Mississippi — March 25, 2022
Parchman Prison — Mississippi — March 28, 2022
Southeastern Social Work Conference — North Carolina — April 1, 2022
Sarasota Film Festival — Sarasota, Florida — April 2, 2022
Cleveland International Film Festival — Cleveland, Ohio — April 7, 2022
Pure Nonfiction — New York, New York — April 13, 2022
DC International Film Festival — Washington, DC — April 23-24, 2022
Pan African Film Festival — Los Angeles, California — April 29-30, 2022
DOXA — Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA — May 6, 2022
Dismas House — Nashville, Tennessee — May 19, 2022
Dartmouth College — Hanover, New Hampshire — June 18, 2022
Bijou Theater — Bridgeport, Connecticut — June 24, 2022
TMBC at the Lincoln Center — Davenport, Iowa — June 28, 2022
FilmScene — Iowa City, Iowa — June 29, 2022
DMACC Urban Campus — Des Moines, Iowa — June 30, 2022
Pulaski Detention Center — Little Rock, Arkansas — July 7, 2022
Arkansas Cinema Society — Little Rock, Arkansas — July 8, 2022
Film Streams — Omaha, Nebraska — July 26, 2022
Building Bridgers — Virtual — July 27, 2022
Lakefront Film Festival — Washington, DC — August 10, 2022
Lane Doc Fest — Jackson, Tennessee — September 17, 2022
California State University Dominguez Hills — Los Angeles, California — September 27, 2022
Experience Christian Ministries — Los Angeles, California — September 29, 2022
PAM CUT/Portland Art Museum — Portland, Oregon — October 6, 2022
Queen City Film Festival — Cumberland, Maryland — October 8, 2022
National Voter Education Week — Virtual — October 9, 2022
Prison & Justice Initiative at Georgetown University ; D.C. Jail — Washington, D.C. — October 11, 2022
All Rise: A Festival of Film & Law — Cleveland, Ohio — October 28, 2022
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, ASU — Phoenix, Arizona — November 3, 2022
Black Harvest Film Festival — Chicago, Illinois — November 9, 2022
Three Rivers Film Festival — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — November 12, 2022
Calvin University — Grand Rapids, Michigan — December 1, 2022