Master of Light

Trailer

Film Synopsis

The Winner of the SXSW 2022 Documentary Feature Grand Jury Award, Master of Light highlights George Anthony Morton, a classical painter who spent ten years in federal prison for dealing drugs. While incarcerated, he nurtured his craft and unique artistic ability. Since his release, he is doing everything he can to defy society’s unlevel playing field and tackle the white-dominant art world. George faces his demons when he returns to his hometown, Kansas City. He does so by painting his family members. Diving deeper into his soul with every brushstroke, George shines a bright light on racial injustice; on the intergenerational trauma that, inescapably, comes with it. What emerges is a deeply personal tour de force, and a powerful, positive portrait of an artist.

Screenings

May 6, 2023

8:30 PM

Presented by Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site

Philadelphia, PA

Mar 24, 2023

7:00 PM

Presented by Prison Story Project & St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Fayetteville, AR

Mar 21, 2023

Presented by Center for Community, Service, and Justice at Loyola University Maryland

Baltimore, MD

Jan 31, 2023

6:00 PM

Presented by Milwaukee Film, Portrait Society Gallery, & The Community

Milwaukee, WI

Dec 9, 2022

7:00 PM

Presented by the University of Maine in Farmington and Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition

Farmington, ME

Dec 7, 2022

7:00 PM

Presented by John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Represent Justice

New York, NY

Dec 2, 2022

4:00 PM

Presented by The Sedona International Film Festival, Sedona Arts Center, and Northern Arizona Restorative Justice

Sedona, AZ

Dec 1, 2022

5:00 PM

Presented by Museum for Black Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Washington, DC

Nov 11, 2022

Presented by DOC NYC

New York, NY

Nov 5, 2022

Presented by Denver Film Festival

Denver, CO

Oct 1, 2022

Presented by Doctober

Bellingham, WA

Sep 21, 2022

Presented by Netherlands Film Festival

Utrecht, Netherlands

Jul 17, 2022

5:15 PM

Presented by National Underground Railroad Museum and Marking Time

Cincinnati, OH

Jun 25, 2022

Presented by Sheffield DocFest

Sheffield, UK

Apr 28, 2022

Presented by Atlanta Film Festival

Atlanta, GA

Apr 24, 2022

Presented by San Francisco International Film Festival Festival

San Francisco, CA

Mar 16, 2022

Presented by SXSW Film Festival

Austin, TX

Mar 15, 2022

Presented by Georgetown Arts & Culture

Georgetown, TX

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Credits

A film by ROSA RUTH BOESTEN & GEORGE ANTHONY MORTON
Produced by VULCAN PRODUCTIONS and ONE STORY UP
In collaboration with DOCMAKERS
Director ROSA RUTH BOESTEN
Produced by ROGER ROSS WILLIAMS, ANOUSHA NZUME, ILJA ROOMANS
Executive Producer GEOFF MARTZ
Executive Producer JODY ALLEN
Executive Producer RUTH JOHNSTON, ROCKY COLLINGS, JANNAT GARGI
Cinematographer JURGEN LISSE
Second Cinematographer ROSA RUTH BOESTEN
Editor EPHRAIM KIRKWOOD
Consulting Editor ENAT SIDI
Assistant Editor FRANCESCA SHARPER
Sound Recordist CLIFTON DUMAS
Music GARY GUNN
Sound Designer MIKE FRANK

Impact Campaign

Master of Light shares an inspirational story of resilience and talent emerging from the oppressive circumstances of prison, and a powerful lens into breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma that fuel mass incarceration and disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities in the United States.

Represent Justice is partnering with George Anthony Morton and One Story Up to launch an impact campaign for Master of Light. We will work to uplift the leadership and power of formerly-incarcerated artists, share hope and inspiration with young people who are currently incarcerated, and create a new narrative about the talent of currently and formerly-incarcerated artists.