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 5, 2024

Presented by South Arts: The Living Arts & Science Center

Lexington, KY

May 7, 2024

Presented by South Arts: Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY

May 9, 2024

Presented by South Arts: Global Education Center

Nashville, TN

May 10, 2024

Presented by South Arts: Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Jackson, MS

May 11, 2024

Presented by South Arts: Arts Council of Central Louisiana

Alexandria, LA

May 12, 2024

Presented by South Arts: Delta State University

Cleveland, MS

May 13, 2024

Presented by South Arts: Sidewalk FIlm Center and Cinema

Birmingham, AL

May 14, 2024

Presented by South Arts: Burrow Museum at Wallace State Community College

Hanceville, AL

Feb 24, 2024

Presented by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – Tippy McMichael Lecture Sereis

Fayetteville, AR

Feb 16, 2024

Presented by Arts for Healing and Justice Network

Lonb Beach, CA

Feb 11, 2024

Presented by Northern Arizona Restorative Justice

Sedona, AZ

Nov 15, 2023

Presented by Cinema St. Louis/St. Louis International Film Festival

Long Beach, CA

Nov 12, 2023

Presented by Northern Arizona Restorative Justice

Sedona, AZ

Nov 1, 2023

Presented by Alliance for the Arts

Fort Myers, FL

Oct 19, 2023

Presented by Art House, Inc.

Cleveland, OH

Oct 16, 2023

Presented by Hennepin County Library and Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility

Minnetonka, MN

Oct 11, 2023

Presented by Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

New York, NY

Sep 22, 2023

Presented by Bowie State University

Bowie, MD

Sep 21, 2023

Presented by Franklin Learning Center High School

Philadelphia, PA

Sep 20, 2023

Presented by A. Philip Randolph Campus High School

Sep 3, 2023

Presented by Northern Arizona Restorative Justice

Sedona, AZ

Aug 31, 2023

Presented by Greater Flint Arts Council & Prison Creative Arts Project of the University of Michigan

Flint, MI

Jul 7, 2023

Presented by The Well Hand of Grace and YWCA of Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo, MI

Jun 26, 2023

Presented by High Shcool of Arts and Technology

New York, NY

Jun 14, 2023

Presented by Councilman Dupre Kelly, Represent Justice, & The Newark Museum of Art

Newrk, NJ

Jun 10, 2023

Presented by William James Association

Santa Cruz, CA

Jun 1, 2023

Presented by Bodine High School for International Affairs

Philadelphia, PA

May 25, 2023

Presented by Friends of Henry O. Tanner House & Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Philadelphia, PA

May 23, 2023

Presented by Schomburg Center

New York, NY

May 22, 2023

Presented by Battery Park City Authority & The Fortune Society

New York, NY

May 9, 2023

Presented by Creative Acts and Crenshaw Dairy Mart

Inglewood, CA

May 8, 2023

Presented by JC Harmon High School

Kansas City, KS

May 6, 2023

8:30 PM

Presented by Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site

Philadelphia, PA

May 6, 2023

Presented by Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site

Philadelphia, PA

Apr 20, 2023

Presented by Virginia State University Art & Design

Petersburg, VA

Apr 17, 2023

Presented by Kentucky College of Art + Design

Louisville, KY

Apr 16, 2023

Presented by Speed Art Museum

Louisville, KY

Apr 13, 2023

Presented by Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center

Lansing, MI

Apr 11, 2023

Presented by Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction & Kings Art Complex

Columbus , OH

Apr 11, 2023

Presented by Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction & Pickaway Correctional

Orient, OH

Apr 5, 2023

Presented by Creative Acts and Valley State Prison

Chowchilla, CA

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

Feb 9, 2023

Presented by The Community and The Portrait Society Gallery of Contemporary Art Milwaukee, MI

Milwaukee, MI

Feb 2, 2023

Presented by The Community and The Portrait Society Gallery of Contemporary Art

Milwaukee, MI

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

May 5, 2022

Presented by Burruss Correctional Training Center & Heartbound Ministries

Forsyth, GA

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.