College Behind Bars, a four-part Emmy-nominated documentary, shares an intimate look at the lives and experiences of BPI students. The film shows how BPI challenges conventional wisdom about the purpose of both education and incarceration. Directed and produced by Lynn Novick and Ken Burns.
College Behind Bars has been screened internationally at colleges and universities and jails and prisons. Since its premiere on PBS in 2019, the BPI student body has grown to over 400 students across seven New York State correctional facilities. Its students and network of 1,000+ alumni continue to defy expectations of who college is for and where it can lead.
Watch the Trailer
Ready to Stream College Behind Bars?
STREAM ALL EPISODES FOR FREE NOW
To learn more about the film, go to Skiff Mountain Films.
“What you see at the end is a testament to the power of education, and why it remains such a dangerous and underrated weapon against a racially and economically unjust status quo in this nation.”
100% TOMATOMETER
RottenTomatoes.com
“I don’t know how you could watch this and not be incredibly moved.”
“Provocative. Easily binge-able. Lynn Novick’s four-part series is persuasive and compelling as an argument for prison education reform… It will probably have you brushing away tears as you’re pondering bigger questions.”
“Absorbing and inspiring. Provides a stark yet hopeful demonstration of the freedom that comes with opening your mind to a higher education.”
“An important educational call to arms. The doc is also a moving portrait of individuals determined to defy the odds and build a better future for themselves.”
“A nuanced look at education in the prison industrial complex.”
“The powerful new miniseries suggests we might find hope in the transformative effect of higher education.”
