SHORTS: SURVIVING THE SYSTEM

Finding oneself in and out of the criminal justice system. In Austin, Texas, Breaion King, a 26 year-old African-American school teacher is stopped for a routine traffic violation that escalates into a dramatic arrest. Caught on police dashcams, Traffic Stop (USA, 30 min., Kate Davis) reveals Breaion being pulled from her car by the arresting officer, repeatedly thrown to the ground, and handcuffed. En route to jail in a squad car, Breaion engages in a revealing conversation with her escorting officer about race and law enforcement in America. Cleveland’s Edwins restaurant offers world-class French cuisine to patrons and the opportunity to learn Knife Skills (USA, 40 mins., Thomas Lennon) for a staff comprised almost entirely of formerly incarcerated men and women seeking a second chance – much like the restaurant’s founder. Total: 70 min.)